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Eating disorders as manifestations of developmental disorders: language and the capacity for abstract thinking in psychotherapy of eating disorders
Author(s) -
Buhl Charlotte
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
european eating disorders review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.511
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1099-0968
pISSN - 1072-4133
DOI - 10.1002/erv.440
Subject(s) - eating disorders , psychology , psychotherapist , association (psychology) , personality disorders , focus (optics) , personality , clinical psychology , developmental psychology , psychoanalysis , physics , optics
The serious eating disorders are manifestations of personality disorders which are characterized by an inadequately developed ability to distinguish and understand emotional states and needs. This paper focus on the development of transitional objects and an inner language as prerequisites for the ability to use words and abstract symbols as soothing and controlling functions. The psychotherapy of patients with eating disorders, and psychosomatic disorders, should be founded on the understanding of their concrete mode of functioning. It is important to avoid misunderstanding and interpreting both the symptoms and the patients' concretistic language as metaphors and symbols of their emotions and needs, before the development of an internal, meaningful language. This is essential for a successful psychotherapeutic result. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.