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Bereavement and neurosis
1F. S. DuBois Center, Stamford, CT, USA.
The Journal of the American Academy of Psychoanalysis
|January 1, 1995
Summary
Bereavement involves traumatic events, while mourning is resolving attachment to the deceased. A multifactorial model, including trauma and vulnerability, offers a more comprehensive understanding of bereavement disorders than traditional mourning-focused approaches.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Psychoanalysis
- Psychiatry
Background:
- The psychoanalytic model of mourning is insufficient for analyzing many bereavement-related disorders.
- Traditional approaches to bereavement have been overly restrictive by focusing solely on mourning disturbances.
Observation:
- Bereavement encompasses traumatic events requiring psychological elaboration.
- Mourning signifies the resolution of psychological attachment to the deceased.
- A multifactorial approach is necessary to capture the complexity of bereavement.
Findings:
- Key factors in bereavement include trauma, vulnerability, unconscious significance, object relations, and defense/adaptation.
- A case study illustrates psychoanalytic treatment focusing on oedipal conflicts and narcissistic trauma following maternal loss and incest.
- The multifactorial model provides a richer framework for analyzing complex bereavement cases.
Implications:
- Expanding the understanding of bereavement beyond mourning disturbances is crucial.
- A multifactorial model enhances the analysis and treatment of psychological disorders stemming from loss.
- This framework aids in comprehending the intricate interplay of factors in psychological adaptation to loss.