''What is my life if you leave me.'' Suicidality and female sadomasochistic relationship structures

Journal/Book: Forum Psychoanal. 1996; 12: 175 Fifth Ave, New York, NY 10010. Springer Verlag. 242-258.

Abstract: In psychotherapeutic practice we are confronted with female patients suffering from a disturbance which is all too lightly categorized as ''typical female masochism''. Ln other words, these patients are not only entrenched in what for them are unbearable relationship structures, in which they are physically and/or psychologically abused, but they also decompensate suicidally if the relationship is terminated by a partner. A similar reaction often recurs in the therapeutic relationship. Whenever the subject of ending the sadomasochistic relationship is dealt with in the therapy and the patients are faced with thoughts and wishes of separation from their partner, the inevitable result is a production of the ''weak and helpless therapist'' and the patients threaten to break off treatment. The complicated and seemingly contradictory connection between suicidality and the sadomasochistic relationship arrangement will be presented and interpreted with the aid of a detailed case study.

Note: Article B Gerisch, Univ Hamburg, Krankenhaus Eppendorf, Therapiezentrum Suizidgefahrdete, Martinistr 52, D-20246 Hamburg, Germany

Zurück | Weiter