Difference between revisions of "Psychosis"
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| + | [[psychosis]] ([[psychose]]) | ||
| − | + | The term [[psychosis]] arose in [[psychiatry]] in the nineteenth century as a way of designating mental illness in general. | |
| − | + | During [[Freud]]'s life, a basic distinction between psychosis and [[neurosis]] came to be generally accepted, according to which psychosis designated extreme forms of mental illness and neurosis denoted less serious disorders. | |
| − | + | This basic distinction between [[neurosis]] and [[psychosis]] was taken up and developed by [[Freud]] himself in several papers (e.g. Freud, 1924b and 1924e). | |
| − | + | [[Lacan]]'s interest in [[psychosis]] predates his interest in [[psychoanalysis]]. | |
| − | + | Indeed it was his doctoral research, which concerned a psychotic woman whom [[Lacan]] calls 'AimÈe', that first led Lacan to [[psychoanalytic theory]] (see Lacan, 1932). | |
| − | + | It has often been remarked that [[Lacan]]'s debt to this [[patient]] is reminiscent of [[Freud]]'s debt to his first [[neurotic]] [[patient]]s (who were also [[female]]). | |
| − | + | In other words, whereas [[Freud]]'s first approach to the [[unconscious]] is by way of [[neurosis]], Lacan's first approach is via [[psychosis]]. | |
| − | + | It has also been common to compare [[Lacan]]'s tortured and at times almost incomprehensible style of writing and speaking to the discourse of [[psychotic]] [[patient]]s. | |
| − | + | Whatever one are stabilized in the delusional metaphor."<ref>{{E}} p.217</ref> | |
| − | + | Another way of describing this is as 'a relationship between the subject and the signifier in its most formal dimension, in its dimension as a pure signifier.<ref>{{S3}} p.250</ref> | |
| − | + | This relationship of the subject to the signifier in its purely formal aspect constitutes "the nucleus of psychosis."<ref>{{S3}} p. 250</ref> | |
| − | + | "If the neurotic inhabits language, the psychotic is inhabited, possessed, by language."<ref>{{S3}} p.250</ref> | |
| − | + | Of all the various forms of [[psychosis]], it is [[paranoia]] that most interests [[Lacan]], while [[schizophrenia]] and manic-depressive [[psychosis]] are rarely discussed.<ref>{{S3}} p.3-4</ref> | |
| − | + | [[Lacan]] follows [[Freud]] in maintaining a structural distinction between [[paranoia]] and [[schizophrenia]]. | |
| − | + | Defined in clincal [[psychiatry]] as a serious mental illness affecting the whole of the personality. | |
| − | + | Unlike a patient suffering from [[neurosis]], the [[psychotic]] cannot be treated on a consensual basis and may therefore have to be committed to a psychiatric institution. | |
| + | The word ''Psychose'' has been current since the 1840s, but was originally used to refer to any form of mental illness.<ref>Laplanche and Pontalis 1967</ref> | ||
| + | The distinction between psychosis and neurosis was introduced and gradually refined in the course of the nineteenth century, and is basic to psychoanalysis. | ||
| + | In psychoanalysis, 'psychosis' is used to describe conditions such as hallucinatory confusion, paranoia and schizophrenia. | ||
| − | + | Freud's theory of psychoanalysis was developed primarily with reference to neurosis. | |
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Lacan, in contrast, began his career by working with psychotics in | Lacan, in contrast, began his career by working with psychotics in | ||
psychiatric hospitals before he became a psychoanalyst (1932) and therefore elaborates a more specific theory of the origins of psychosis. | psychiatric hospitals before he became a psychoanalyst (1932) and therefore elaborates a more specific theory of the origins of psychosis. | ||
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Contrasting neurosis snad psychosis, Freud argues that, whilst both conditions originate in a conflict between the ego and other agencies of the psyche, psychosis results from a disturbance in the ego's relationship with the external world, neurosis from a conflict between the ego and the id. | Contrasting neurosis snad psychosis, Freud argues that, whilst both conditions originate in a conflict between the ego and other agencies of the psyche, psychosis results from a disturbance in the ego's relationship with the external world, neurosis from a conflict between the ego and the id. | ||
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In psychosis the ego withdraws from some part or aspect of the rela world, either fialing to perceive it or being unaffected by its perceptiuon of it.. | In psychosis the ego withdraws from some part or aspect of the rela world, either fialing to perceive it or being unaffected by its perceptiuon of it.. | ||
Lacan draws on Freud's comment and remarks on the case of Daniel Paul Schrebe, an appeal court judge who wrote an autobiographicla account of his paranoid delusions, to elaborate the thesis that psychosis is trigged by the specific mechanism of [[foreclosure]].<ref>Lacan 1957-8, 1981</ref> | Lacan draws on Freud's comment and remarks on the case of Daniel Paul Schrebe, an appeal court judge who wrote an autobiographicla account of his paranoid delusions, to elaborate the thesis that psychosis is trigged by the specific mechanism of [[foreclosure]].<ref>Lacan 1957-8, 1981</ref> | ||
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A key signifier or the name of the father is expelled or foreclosed fromt he subject's symbolic world and a hole or rent is left in its ploace. | A key signifier or the name of the father is expelled or foreclosed fromt he subject's symbolic world and a hole or rent is left in its ploace. | ||
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The foreclosed signifier is not integrated into the unconscious thanks to an act of repression,a nd therefore cannot return on the form of a neurotic signifier. | The foreclosed signifier is not integrated into the unconscious thanks to an act of repression,a nd therefore cannot return on the form of a neurotic signifier. | ||
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It returns, rather, in the real, usually in the form of persecutory hallucinations and delusions. | It returns, rather, in the real, usually in the form of persecutory hallucinations and delusions. | ||
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A mental condition whereby the patient completely loses touch with reality. | A mental condition whereby the patient completely loses touch with reality. | ||
Revision as of 22:58, 4 July 2006
The term psychosis arose in psychiatry in the nineteenth century as a way of designating mental illness in general.
During Freud's life, a basic distinction between psychosis and neurosis came to be generally accepted, according to which psychosis designated extreme forms of mental illness and neurosis denoted less serious disorders.
This basic distinction between neurosis and psychosis was taken up and developed by Freud himself in several papers (e.g. Freud, 1924b and 1924e).
Lacan's interest in psychosis predates his interest in psychoanalysis.
Indeed it was his doctoral research, which concerned a psychotic woman whom Lacan calls 'AimÈe', that first led Lacan to psychoanalytic theory (see Lacan, 1932).
It has often been remarked that Lacan's debt to this patient is reminiscent of Freud's debt to his first neurotic patients (who were also female).
In other words, whereas Freud's first approach to the unconscious is by way of neurosis, Lacan's first approach is via psychosis.
It has also been common to compare Lacan's tortured and at times almost incomprehensible style of writing and speaking to the discourse of psychotic patients.
Whatever one are stabilized in the delusional metaphor."[1]
Another way of describing this is as 'a relationship between the subject and the signifier in its most formal dimension, in its dimension as a pure signifier.[2]
This relationship of the subject to the signifier in its purely formal aspect constitutes "the nucleus of psychosis."[3]
"If the neurotic inhabits language, the psychotic is inhabited, possessed, by language."[4]
Of all the various forms of psychosis, it is paranoia that most interests Lacan, while schizophrenia and manic-depressive psychosis are rarely discussed.[5]
Lacan follows Freud in maintaining a structural distinction between paranoia and schizophrenia.
Defined in clincal psychiatry as a serious mental illness affecting the whole of the personality.
Unlike a patient suffering from neurosis, the psychotic cannot be treated on a consensual basis and may therefore have to be committed to a psychiatric institution.
The word Psychose has been current since the 1840s, but was originally used to refer to any form of mental illness.[6]
The distinction between psychosis and neurosis was introduced and gradually refined in the course of the nineteenth century, and is basic to psychoanalysis.
In psychoanalysis, 'psychosis' is used to describe conditions such as hallucinatory confusion, paranoia and schizophrenia.
Freud's theory of psychoanalysis was developed primarily with reference to neurosis.
Lacan, in contrast, began his career by working with psychotics in psychiatric hospitals before he became a psychoanalyst (1932) and therefore elaborates a more specific theory of the origins of psychosis.
Contrasting neurosis snad psychosis, Freud argues that, whilst both conditions originate in a conflict between the ego and other agencies of the psyche, psychosis results from a disturbance in the ego's relationship with the external world, neurosis from a conflict between the ego and the id.
In psychosis the ego withdraws from some part or aspect of the rela world, either fialing to perceive it or being unaffected by its perceptiuon of it..
Lacan draws on Freud's comment and remarks on the case of Daniel Paul Schrebe, an appeal court judge who wrote an autobiographicla account of his paranoid delusions, to elaborate the thesis that psychosis is trigged by the specific mechanism of foreclosure.[7]
A key signifier or the name of the father is expelled or foreclosed fromt he subject's symbolic world and a hole or rent is left in its ploace.
The foreclosed signifier is not integrated into the unconscious thanks to an act of repression,a nd therefore cannot return on the form of a neurotic signifier.
It returns, rather, in the real, usually in the form of persecutory hallucinations and delusions.
A mental condition whereby the patient completely loses touch with reality.
Psychosis versus Neurosis
The term 'psychosis' denotes an severe form of mental illness, while 'neurosis' denotes less severe forms.
Sigmund Freud elaborated a distinction between psychosis and neurosis.[8]
"[In] neurosis the ego suppresses part of the id out of allegiance to reality, whereas in psychosis it lets itself be carried away by the id and detached from a part of reality."[9]
Psychosis and Lacan
Jacques Lacan studied psychosis for his doctoral research about a woman he calls "Aimee."[10]
It is common to compare Lacan's style of writing and speaking to the discourse of psychotic patients.
Psychosis has many different forms: paranoia, schizophrenia, and manic-depression.[11]
References
- ↑ Lacan, Jacques. Écrits: A Selection. Trans. Alan Sheridan. London: Tavistock Publications, 1977. p.217
- ↑ Lacan, Jacques. The Seminar. Book III. The Psychoses, 1955-56. Trans. Russell Grigg. London: Routledge, 1993. p.250
- ↑ Lacan, Jacques. The Seminar. Book III. The Psychoses, 1955-56. Trans. Russell Grigg. London: Routledge, 1993. p. 250
- ↑ Lacan, Jacques. The Seminar. Book III. The Psychoses, 1955-56. Trans. Russell Grigg. London: Routledge, 1993. p.250
- ↑ Lacan, Jacques. The Seminar. Book III. The Psychoses, 1955-56. Trans. Russell Grigg. London: Routledge, 1993. p.3-4
- ↑ Laplanche and Pontalis 1967
- ↑ Lacan 1957-8, 1981
- ↑ Freud, 1924b and 1924e
- ↑ 5.202
- ↑ Lacan, 1932
- ↑ S3, 3-4
