You do not currently have permission to view the full text for this document. Please sign in to an account with an active subscription or contact support.
The editors of this book have divided the contributions into three categories. The focus of Part 1 is on some of the underlying dynamics in psychosomatic symptoms. Within this section there are papers concerning ego structure, psychodynamic constellations, projective identification, family psychopathology, and the aetiologic role of early stress, loss, separation and grief.
Part 2 concentrates on issues related to asthma and Part 3 contains papers pertaining to gastro-intestinal disorders. The discussion of the specific disease entities highlights the more general characteristics outlined in the first section.
There are eight contributors to this volume. C. Philip Wilson, a co-editor, has authored or co-authored seven of the sixteen papers and in addition has written the epilogue on psychotherapeutic techniques. Dr Wilson chairs the psychosomatic discussion group of the Psychoanalytic Association of New York, and the psychosomatic discussion group of the American Psychoanalytic Association. Many of the contributions in this book were presented in part at these meetings or grew out of the ongoing deliberations.
As suggested by the title, Psychosomatic Symptoms: Psychodynamic Treatment of the Underlying Personality Disorder, the general aims of this book are twofold: (1) to underscore the psychodynamic underpinnings of psychosomatic symptoms, and (2) to demonstrate the principles and efficacy of psychodynamic treatment for patients with these disorders.
To begin, one must first ask if at our present state of psychological study it is necessary to demonstrate again the effect of the mind on organic functioning, or to confirm the importance of psychodynamic understanding and treatment with this group of illnesses. In surveying the general psychiatric literature, I would answer strongly in the affirmative. At a time when biological psychiatry has blossomed, it is particularly important to underscore the importance of a man's emotional life in the understanding and