ABSTRACT
The paper analyse the correlation between autonomy of patients with eating disorders and schizophrenia and autonomy of their parents. Triangulation within the 3-generations family system in both diagnostic groups is described.
Subject(s)
Family/psychology , Feeding and Eating Disorders/complications , Feeding and Eating Disorders/psychology , Intergenerational Relations , Schizophrenia/complications , Adolescent , Adult , Feeding and Eating Disorders/epidemiology , Female , Humans , Male , Parent-Child Relations , Parents/psychology , Schizophrenia/epidemiology , Schizophrenic PsychologyABSTRACT
The paper presents family models which associate the development of anorexia nervosa with the specific functioning of the patient's family of origin. The described conceptions are based on systems theory which assumes circular conception of family relations. This allows for avoiding one-sidedness of approach, i.e. perceiving a patient as a victim of the family system. In fact, these models emphasize the patient's part in the specific "game" taking place within the family. The conceptions indicate a number of characteristic patterns of relations between the patient's parents as a married couple as well as between the patient and her parents, which, in the period of adolescence become the source of a crisis that assumes the form of anorexia nervosa. The presented approach, focussed on an analysis of family relations, does not question the importance of other aetiological factors. It only points out that the dynamics of mutual relations within a family is an important mechanism influencing the development of the patient's identification and her psychosexual role as well as the course of the separation/individuation process. These aspects seem pivotal for understanding and treatment of anorexia nervosa.
Subject(s)
Anorexia Nervosa/psychology , Family/psychology , Communication , HumansABSTRACT
Concepts analysing intergenerational transmission in families of anorectic patients are presented. The researches indicate that the problems associated with the autonomy process in patients with anorexia nervosa may be rooted in experiences of former generations and connected with specific patterns of family relationships. From among these, mourning and suffering bonds, sense of justice, value of sacrifice philosophy and particular delegations addressed to daughters seem essential. Such a selection emphasises co-evolutional character of separation-individuation process and justifies the place of family therapy in therapeutic process.