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Hypochondriasis, acting out and counter-acting out.
1Geha Psychiatric Hospital, Beilinson Medical Center, Petah Tikva, Israel.
The British Journal of Medical Psychology
|September 1, 1989
Summary
Hypochondriasis involves medical acting out, which can trigger therapist counter-actions. This behavior, initially broad, narrows into the therapeutic process during treatment.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Psychology
Background:
- Hypochondriasis presents a clear clinical picture but a less understood psychopathological structure.
- The condition involves specific patterns of behavior, particularly medical 'acting out'.
Observation:
- Hypochondriasis is characterized by medical 'acting out', which can elicit a 'counter-acting out' response from therapists.
- This 'acting out' behavior can be categorized as 'broad' (a character trait) or 'narrow' (related to the therapeutic process).
Findings:
- The 'broad' medical acting out, present before therapy, shifts to a 'narrow' form within the therapy session.
- This transformation indicates a containment of the patient's behavioral patterns within the therapeutic relationship.
Implications:
- Understanding this dynamic is crucial for effective hypochondriasis treatment.
- Therapists must recognize and manage the interplay of acting out and counter-acting out for successful psychotherapeutic outcomes.