Psychoanalytic approach of eating disorders
PAPAKONSTANTINOU K.

The patients who suffer from eating disorders constitute an especially difficult group of patients concerning the approach and the therapeutic treatment. Psychological, social as well as cultural factors are possible causes of the disorder, while it is considered to be possible a biological predisposition. In this particular article we will approach these disorders under a psychodynamic aspect as a self pathology caused to chronic and traumatic disturbance of the empathic connection between the child and its parental environment. This continual violent disconnection of the early relations affects the psychosexual development and especially the body image. During puberty there is an effort to replace these structural defects representing in a symbolic way -as a bulimic or anorexic symptom- the danger of the self as well as the effort of reconstruction.

The disorder's complexion and the tendency of those patients to resort to body representations restrain the emotional exchange in the therapeutic context. It is recommended a modified psychodynamic intervention which target to the solution of the pathologic relations with others and to reinforce of the self's cohesion

Key words: Eating disorders, bulimia, psychoanalytic psychotherapy, self psychology.