[Hypochondriasis: mechanisms of a disorder in the light of psychoanalytical concepts]

This paper presents the mechanisms of hypochondria from the perspective of different theoretical orientations in psychoanalysis. The authors analyze the significance of narcissism, the death instinct (mainly from the perspective of Melanie Klein's school) and the masochistic tendencies, in hypochondria. The paper presents the views of various psychoanalytical authors on the links between hypochondria and other mental disorders. The authors also present the theory and empirical data, showing the connection between somatoform disorders and the traumatic experiences in childhood. The authors stress the importance of the contribution of different theoretical schools in psychoanalysis to the understanding of the intra psychic work of hypochondria.