Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 16, 2026

Assessing Activity-based Anorexia in Mice
Published on: May 14, 2018
Eating disorders, addictions, and unconscious fantasy
1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Stanford University School of Medicine, CA 94705, USA.
Abstract:
Using concepts from object relations theory, the author extends the theories of eating disorders advanced by Freud and Bruch. Ogden's sensation-based autistic-contiguous position, Tustin's related concepts of autistic shapes and objects, and Fairbairn's theory of object relations are related to the addictive nature of eating disorders. A clinical illustration demonstrates how these recent theoretical concepts can help explain the unique qualities of the transference and countertransference that develop when working with eating disorder patients.
Related Concept Videos
Freudian Psychology
Psychosexual Stages of Personality: Oral
Weaning, typically occurring around the age...
Introduction to Psychological Disorders
Deviant Behavior
Deviance in behavior refers to actions or thought patterns that significantly diverge from societal norms or...
Anorexia Nervosa
Symptoms and Physical Effects
Individuals with anorexia nervosa commonly exhibit extreme...
Bulimia Nervosa
Binge Eating Disorders

