[Psychoanalytical aspects regarding etiology and understanding of schizophrenic psychoses]. 2005

M Minauf

The author -- specialized in Psychiatry and Neurology as well as a Psychoanalyst -- reports her experience during some decades of treating patients with schizophrenia in greatly different hospitals and institutions. Many examples demonstrate that psychoanalytical knowledge and recognizing psychodynamic connections can essentially contribute to understanding and treating psychotic patients. From the multitude of psychoanalytic theories on the etiology of schizophrenia some aspects are demonstrated, mainly those regarding their use in practical work. Some of them are: ego-disturbance, the psychotic symptom as a defence mechanism and the problem of countertransference. Regarding the ego-disturbance some examples show that usually not all ego-functions are impaired. Thus, cognitive functions may not only frequently be preserved, but may be working even better than usual. Out of numerous mechanisms of defense in schizophrenia projection, identification, projective identification, splitting, denial and regression are especially important. Moreover, psychotic patients frequently show certain symptoms that are related to very personal experiences. They can often be recognized quite easily as defence mechanisms. Countertransference is of great importance when treating such patients. Three of these numerous phenomenous are mentioned especially: anxiety, compassion, which may lead to identification, and the incapacity to accept the limit of therapeutic measures. The author is convinced that the so-called "psychodynamic" and "biological" psychiatry are not in opposition. Splitting them is not justified because according to the different stages of illness treatment with drugs as well as with different psychotherapeutic methods, even with psychoanalytical ones and social rehabilitation, are necessary. The etiology of schizophrenic psychosis cannot be explained with psychoanalysis either. Yet, the knowledge of psychodynamic processes can contribute essentially to understanding the illness and treating the patient. The compliance accomplished thereby can improve the quality of life of the patient and possibly for the therapist too.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D011574 Psychoanalytic Theory Conceptual system developed by Freud and his followers in which unconscious motivations are considered to shape normal and abnormal personality development and behavior. Oral Character,Psychoanalytical Theory,Theory, Psychoanalytic,Character, Oral,Characters, Oral,Oral Characters,Psychoanalytic Theories,Psychoanalytical Theories,Theories, Psychoanalytic,Theories, Psychoanalytical,Theory, Psychoanalytical
D004532 Ego The conscious portion of the personality structure which serves to mediate between the demands of the primitive instinctual drives, (the id), of internalized parental and social prohibitions or the conscience, (the superego), and of reality. Self,Egos
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012559 Schizophrenia A severe emotional disorder of psychotic depth characteristically marked by a retreat from reality with delusion formation, HALLUCINATIONS, emotional disharmony, and regressive behavior. Dementia Praecox,Schizophrenic Disorders,Disorder, Schizophrenic,Disorders, Schizophrenic,Schizophrenias,Schizophrenic Disorder
D012565 Schizophrenic Psychology Study of mental processes and behavior of schizophrenics. Psychology, Schizophrenic

Related Publications

M Minauf
January 1975, Neurologia, neurocirugia, psiquiatria,
M Minauf
January 1960, Suvremenna meditsina,
M Minauf
June 1973, Tidsskrift for den Norske laegeforening : tidsskrift for praktisk medicin, ny raekke,
M Minauf
April 1989, Psychiatrie, Neurologie, und medizinische Psychologie,
M Minauf
January 1960, Rivista di patologia nervosa e mentale,
M Minauf
November 2005, Fortschritte der Neurologie-Psychiatrie,
M Minauf
January 1961, Voprosy psikhiatrii i nevropatologii; sbornik trudov,
M Minauf
January 1978, Pielegniarka i polozna,
Copied contents to your clipboard!