Can we really speak of "new pathologies"?

Journal title GRUPPI
Author/s Francesco Conrotto
Publishing Year 2012 Issue 2011/1 Language Italian
Pages 14 P. 11-24 File size 253 KB
DOI 10.3280/GRU2011-001002
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The author discusses the so-called "new pathologies" - that is, the name given to the most common forms of suffering (depression, psychosomatosis, different types of addiction, eating disorders etc.) - exhibited by the majority of patients asking for psychological help today. Through deep reasoning and rigorous analysis of the formation and functioning of these patients’ psychic apparatus, he demonstrates that in truth, these are not to be seen as "new" pathologies. Obviously, these symptoms are related to social and cultural aspects, and their underlying psychic structure is perfectly explained by Sigmund Freud’s second theory. These psychopathologies have always been treated with psychoanalysis, with no need to resort to any "new theory", but only to apply the necessary technical modifications.

Keywords: New pathologies, psychic apparatus, subject of the unconscious, psychoanalysis, personality structures, symptoms.

Francesco Conrotto, Possiamo davvero parlare di neo-patologie? in "GRUPPI" 1/2011, pp 11-24, DOI: 10.3280/GRU2011-001002