300: Psychosomatics
Instructors
March 11 – April 15, 2024
Mondays, 7:00 – 8:25 pm
Course Description
The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the psychoanalytic understanding and psychoanalytic treatment of psychosomatic symptoms and illness. It is hoped that this introduction will contribute to a heightened awareness of these issues in everyday practice. We will approach these issues via case histories written by several distinguished practitioners– Joyce McDougall, Marilia Aisenstein, Ira Mintz, Lila Kalinich, and Catalina Bronstein. We will also consider the findings of John Sarno, whose influential work is based on the observation that psychosomatic pain is caused by unconscious conflict.
Course Objectives
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Describe the historic arc of theories of somatics/psychosomatics within the field of psychoanalysis.
- Utilize those theories to recognize the presentation of psychosomatic illness in their patients.
Evaluation Method
Each student’s participation in class discussion and his or her demonstration of understanding of the course objectives and reading material is assessed in a written evaluation by the instructor(s).
These articles are protected under relevant copyright regulations. They are available in the New York Psychoanalytic Society & Institute Electronic Reserve for your convenience, and for your personal use.
READINGS ARE CONFIRMED.
I. Certain Factors Which May Predispose a Patient to Serious Somatization
CLASS 1: March 11, 2024
REQUIRED READINGS
McDougall, J. (1989). Theaters of the body: A psychoanalytic approach to psychosomatic illness. [Read Chapter 3]
McDougall, J. (1989). Theaters of the body: A psychoanalytic approach to psychosomatic illness. [Read Chapter 4]
SUPPLEMENTARY READINGS
Stilman, N. (2013). Freud: First theories. Unpublished: pp. 1-4. [Read prior to first class]
Deutsch, F. (1939). The Choice of Organ in Organ Neuroses. Int. J. Psycho-Anal., 20:252-262.
Groddeck, G. (1917). Psychic conditioning and the psychoanalytic treatment of organic disorders. In: The Meaning of Illness: Selected psychoanalytic writings. Tr. Mander, G. New York Universities Press, Inc. 1977: 109-131. [Read 109-120]
Groddeck, G. As above, remainder of paper. pp. 120-131.
II. View from the Paris School of Psychosomatics
CLASS 2: March 18, 2024
REQUIRED READINGS
Aisenstein, M. (2020). A View on Patients with Somatic or Painful Conditions. Revue Roumaine de Psychanalyse, 13:15-28. [Read pp. 23-27]
Aisenstein, M. (2006). The Indissociable Unity of Psyche and Soma: A View From the Paris Psychosomatic School1. International Journal of Psychoanalysis, 87:667-680.
Aisenstein, M. (1993). Psychosomatic Solution or Somatic Outcome: The Man from Burma—Psychotherapy of a Case of Haemorrhagic Rectocolitis. International Journal of Psychoanalysis, 74:371-381.
SUPPLEMENTARY READINGS
Alexander, F. (1934). The Influence of Psychologic Factors Upon Gastro-Intestinal Disturbances: A Symposium—I. General Principles, Objectives, and Preliminary Results. Psychoanal. Q., 3:501-539.
III. The Treatment of a Case of Anorexia and Severe Asthma
CLASS 3: March 25, 2024
REQUIRED READINGS
Mintz, I. L. (1989). Treatment of a case of anorexia and severe asthma. In: Psychosomatic Symptoms: Psychodynamic Treatment of the Underlying Personality Disorder, ed. C.P. Wilson and I.L. Mintz (Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson), pp. 251-307.
SUPPLEMENTARY READINGS
Lichtman, C. (2010). A Psychoanalyst’s Journey Through a Somatic World. Psychoanalytic Inquiry: 380-389.
Sperling, M. (1955). Psychosis and Psychosomatic Illness. Int. J. Psycho-Anal. 36: 320-327
Winnicott, D.W. (1966). Psycho-Somatic Illness in its Positive and Negative Aspects. Int. J. Psycho-Anal., 47:510-516.
IV. Further Case Material and Theoretical Understanding from Joyce McDougall
CLASS 4: April 1, 2024
REQUIRED READINGS
McDougall, J. (1989). Theaters of the body: A psychoanalytic approach to psychosomatic illness. [Read Chapter 10]
McDougall, J. (1989). Theaters of the body: A psychoanalytic approach to psychosomatic illness. [Read Chapter 11]
SUPPLEMENTARY READINGS
Aisenstein, M. (2006). The Indissociable Unity of Psyche and Soma: A View From the Paris Psychosomatic School. Int. J. Psycho-Anal., 87(3):667-680.
Green, A. (1975). The Analyst, Symbolization and Absence in the Analytic Setting (On Changes in Analytic Practice and Analytic Experience)—In Memory of D. W. Winnicott. Int. J. Psycho-Anal., 56:1-22.
Sifneos, P.E. (1977). The Phenomenon of ‘Alexithymia’. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics. 28: 47-57.
V. The Psychosomatic Theory and Practice of John Sarno
CLASS 5: April 8, 2024
REQUIRED READINGS
Sarno, J.E. (2006). Treatment. In The Divided Mind: The Epidemic of Mindbody Disorders. Harper Collins. [Read pp. 1-6, 11-32, 129-141, 147-150]
SUPPLEMENTARY READINGS
Aisenstein, M. (1993). Psychosomatic Solution or Somatic Outcome: The Man from Burma—Psychotherapy of a Case of Haemorrhagic Rectocolitis. Int. J. Psycho-Anal., 74:371-381
Boucherat-Hue et al. (2018). Critical and reasoned review of the psychosomatic question in French-speaking psychoanalysts. Int. J Psychoanal, 99: 877-904.
McDougall, J. (1974). The Psychosoma and the Psychoanalytic Process. Int. R. Psycho-Anal., 1:437-459.
VI. Clinical Papers by Lila Kalinich and Catalina Bronstein
CLASS 6: April 15, 2024
REQUIRED READINGS
Aisenstein, M., Aisemberg, E. R., & International Psycho-Analytical Association. (2010). Psychosomatics today: A psychoanalytic perspective. London: Karnac. [Read Chapter 3: Psychosomatics: The Role of Unconscious Phantasy and Chapter 4: Rash of a Different Color: Somatopsychic Eruptions from the Other Side]
SUPPLEMENTARY READINGS
Anderson, F.S. (2015). Pathways to Pain Relief—An Introduction. Att: New Dir. in Psychother. Relat. Psychoanal., 9(1):19-28.
McDougall, J. (1980). A Child is Being Eaten—I: Psychosomatic States, Anxiety Neurosis and Hysteria—a Theoretical Approach II: The Abysmal Mother and the Cork Child—a Clinical Illustration. Contemp. Psychoanal., 16:417-459.
Zerbe, K. J. (2020). Pandemic Fatigue: Facing the Body’s Inexorable Demands in the Time of Covid-19. Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association, 68:475-478.