Citation

Coleman JV. Psychiatr. Q. 1944; 18(2): 233-239.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1944, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/BF01561147

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

There is a group of cases with depressive personalities in which rapid loss of weight, simulating an organic wasting disease, occupies the foreground of clinical interest. The mechanism of the weight loss is that of a "displacement process" with the emaciation serving to alleviate the sense of guilt on an unconscious sacrificial basis. Clinically the cases have been either severe reactive depressions or mild variants of a depressive phase of a manic-depressive psychosis. Secondary infantile regression is a common sequel and is mainly responsible for resistance to treatment, especially in the military service. Since this is a selective reaction, it presupposes a special oral-infantile predisposition in the patient.

Keywords: Suicide

Language: en

Keywords

Change Food Habit; Common Sequel; Depressive Personality; Depressive Phase; Military Service