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Loving them to death: the anorexic and her objects.
The International Journal of Psycho-Analysis
|March 10, 2001
Summary
This study explores eating disorders as a means to control internal parental figures, differentiating anorexia (frozen objects) from bulimia (frenzied attacks). The severity of illness and treatment outcomes are linked to the intensity of these internal attacks.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Psychoanalysis
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Eating disorders may stem from a desire to control internal parental figures, aligning with Klein's concept of manic defense.
- This psychoanalytic framework offers a new lens for differentiating between anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.
Observation:
- Anorexia nervosa is characterized by a perception of internal objects as permanently frozen or suspended.
- Bulimia nervosa involves an intermittent and frenzied attack on internal objects.
- Case studies of three severely ill patients highlight key differences in their psychological presentations.
Findings:
- The intensity and nature of the "murderous attack" on the internal couple appear to correlate with illness severity.
- These internal dynamics may also influence a patient's responsiveness to treatment.
- Distinctions between anorexia and bulimia are illuminated through the lens of object relations and defense mechanisms.
Implications:
- Understanding these internal dynamics can refine therapeutic approaches for eating disorders.
- Eating disorders might be conceptualized as a unique manifestation of unresolved Oedipal conflicts and illusions.
- This psychoanalytic perspective contributes to contemporary discussions on eating disorder etiology and treatment.