Pain, affect, and attachment

Authors

  • Carl E. Scheidt
  • Elisabeth Waller

Abstract

Various psychodynamic processes may underlie the development of psychogenic pain disorder such as conversion, the displacement of affect or narcissistic defences. However, many of the processes suggested are related to a disorder of affect regulation. The term affect regulation in the psychoanalytic literature refers to phenomena which often are described by the concept of alexithymia. Empirical observations suggest that alexithymia is correlated to insecure attachment, especially an insecure dismissing representation of attachment. Psychodynamic psychotherapy in psychogenic pain disorder should focus on the re-integration of split-off affects which may provoke intensive counter-transference and which in order to be used therapeutically must be linked to attachment experiences within and outside of the therapeutic relationship.

Keywords:
Psychogenic pain disorder; Affect regulation; Alexithymia; Insecure attachment

Author Biographies

Carl E. Scheidt

Carl Eduard Scheidt, Prof. Dr. med., MA, geb. 1954, ltd. Oberarzt Abteilung für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie, Universitätsklinikum Freiburg, ärztlicher Leiter der Thure-von-Uexküll-Klinik Freiburg. Studium der Medizin und Philosophie, Forschungsaufenthalt am Maudsley Krankenhaus, London, Arzt für Psychiatrie, Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie, Psychoanalytiker (DPV), Forschungsschwerpunkte somatoforme Störungen, klinische Bindungsforschung, Psychotherapieforschung

Korrespondenz: Prof. Dr. Carl E. Scheidt, Abteilung für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie, Universitätsklinik Freiburg, Hauptstraße 8, 79104 Freiburg, Deutschland

Elisabeth Waller

Elisabeth Waller, Dr. phil., geb. 1967, Studium der Psychologie in Freiburg, wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiterin am Lehrstuhl für Entwicklungspsychologie an der Universität Regensburg (Prof. Dr. K. Grossmann). Seit 1997 wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiterin an der Abteilung für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie, Universitätsklinikum Freiburg, Psychologische Psychotherapeutin mit tiefenpsychologischem und psychoanalytischem Schwerpunkt. Forschungsschwerpunkte Bindungsforschung, somatoforme Störungen

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Published

2005-10-01

How to Cite

Scheidt, C. E., & Waller, E. (2005). Pain, affect, and attachment. Psychotherapie-Wissenschaft, (4), 154–163. Retrieved from https://psychotherapie-wissenschaft.info/article/view/350

Issue

No. 4 (2005): Psychotherapie Forum 13/4 (veröffentlicht bei Springer Wien New York)

Section

Special Issue

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