Citation

Marin HR, Najt NE. Acta Psiquiatr. Psicol. Am. Lat. 1982; 28(2): 155-158.

Vernacular Title

Psicosis: modelo posible de su abordaje en la observación teórico-clínica en niños y su familia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1982, Fundacion Acta Fondo para la Salud Mental)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

7136832

Abstract

In this work we intend to define the constitution of the psychosis in children through a methodological proposal called "genetic model". This model includes the clinical investigation about the child and his family. We have come to this research after several years of having worked as adult and child analysts of diverse pathology. Our research has an initial point, both theoretical and clinical, in the early constitution of the child's psychosis. In our daily practice as analysts we have observed that the aspects dealt with in this work were the commonest to appear, not only in the direct work with the psychotic child and with his family, but also through the task of supervising therapies carried out in hospitals and private health-service clinics in the city of La Plata. We have performed this work with the theoretical guide of Sigmund Freud and Piera Aulagnier's studies. By "genetic model" we understand all the work we have carried out from the anamnesis with the parents and clinical investigation in the child as regards the living conditions in the environment so that the child's ego could emerge. Our observation, while performing the "model" already mentioned, detected that living conditions in our middle-class children are visibly distressing, psychotic in its greatest form. Therefore, we reconsider the existence of an early symptomatology in the constitution of the child's psychosis. The symptomatology commonly found shows the following items: loss of diminution of the libidinal interest on the part of the child towards his mother mate; loss of interest about his nutrition; diminution or loss of perception of his basic needs (absence of vital force); loss of interest to communicate with the external environment; loss of smile and entertainment, within the latter: loss of vocal and corporal play. These symptoms may last for a short period of time (days, weeks) but others may last forever. Generally, they are not detected by the pediatrician or neurologist. Thus, they are not properly dealt with. We believe that this early moment, which will determine the individual's destiny, is detected during the psychoanalytical work with his parents. In this work we realize of the existence of a number of conditions which favour the psychotic state. Among the most outstanding ones we find a daily violence exercised upon the child, a predominance of the death compulsion towards the child who acquires different characteristics: actual hatred, an interest which suffocates and does not let him grow or the most absolute indifference. All these features create subhuman living conditions for the creature's ego. In general, his ego does not grow properly and independently. The parents' failure limits prematurely the child to an infrahuman way of living. It's true that these conditions are necessary but not enough to give place to the psychotic development of the child. The lack of love between parents and the predominance of Thanatos are the two constant factors found when performing our analytical task.

Language: es