Citation

Mikhailova O. Psychoanalytic Social Work 2006; 12(2): 19-45.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1300/J032v12n02_02

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This article approaches suicide as a personal drama, which is believed to be best understood and relieved by psychoanalysis. In the article, the phenomenon of suicide is examined through the lenses of some major conceptual frameworks within the psychoanalytic tradition, including classic Freudian views and their early revisions as presented in the writings of M. Klein, K. Horney and others, and the more contemporary psychodynamic theories, such as British object relations, self psychology and the Lacanian perspective. The discussion is completed by a case study of an acutely suicidal psychotic adolescent whose story is related by Joanne Greenberg in her autobiographic novel I Never Promised You A Rose Garden and in the movie based on it. © 2005 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

Suicide; Self-destruction; Death instinct