Psychodynamic differentiation and classification of psychotic processes

Journal/Book: Psychotherapeut. 1997; 42: 175 Fifth Ave, New York, NY 10010. Springer Verlag. 343-349.

Abstract: The author presents a psychodynamic model of psychoses, which, by the way,fits well into the descriptive psychiatric classifications and is also compatible with biological findings. Two fundamental dilemmata - resulting from the conflictualisation of primary, normal bipolarities - are relevant: ''Self identity'' versus ''fusion with the object'' is characteristic for schizophrenia, ''self-worth'' versus ''object-worth'' is relevant for the affective psychosis. This is the first criterion. One can now conceptualize psychoses as pathological ''solutions'' of these two dilemmas. The so-called ''solutions'' involve defense and compensatory mechanisms which can be either self-oriented or object-oriented. Autism versus fusion, or, mania versus depression are typical examples. This is the second criterion. A third criterion resp. Dimension refers to the contrast between overstimulation, expansion, primary process etc. On the one hand,and understimulation, restriction etc. On the other. On this dimension one can differentiate between ''productive'' and ''minus''-symptoms.

Note: Article Mentzos S, Beethovenstr 15, D-60325 Frankfurt, GERMANY

Keyword(s): psychodynamic of psychoses; classification of psychoses; conflict versus defect; psychosomatoses of the brain

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