Citation

Holmes J. J. Child Psychother. 2019; 45(1): 71-86.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/0075417X.2019.1617766

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

A selective and limited sample of clinical case studies of psychoanalytic psychotherapy with anorexic patients, focussing on the author/therapist's experience of working with such patients, is examined. Patients' depressive and often angry states of withdrawal, and projections, are frequently noted. A summary of more hopeful interactions, as selected from the literature reviewed, is offered. An understanding of anorexic defences is explored in relation to the 'Trojan Horse' mythology, in the sense that that which purports to be emotionally nourishing and sublime can be suspiciously viewed as seeking to enter and conquer, through subterfuge. Some existing challenges to traditional tenets of psychoanalytic clinical practice with anorexic patients are presented. © 2019, © 2019 Association of Child Psychotherapists.

Language: en

Keywords

human; suicide; child; female; male; bipolar disorder; psychotherapy; depression; psychosis; loneliness; empathy; anorexia nervosa; eating disorders; Anorexia nervosa; anorexia; eating disorder; psychoanalysis; psychiatrist; energy expenditure; starvation; borderline state; emotionality; narcissism; caloric intake; Article; ‘no-entry’ defences; container-contained; Trojan Horse