{"title":"Psychosis in autism","authors":"Ruth S Weinberg","doi":"10.1080/0075417X.2022.2086283","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT This article discusses a unique form of withdrawal observed in children with ASD, using a detailed case study. This withdrawal can be understood as linked to a psychotic organisation, in addition to the autistic aspects and early developmental difficulties in the sense of self. A child on the spectrum with psychosis makes for a unique case, because the psychosis rests on an early developmental impairment. In such cases, a fragile self uses disintegration of the mind as a mechanism that enables blurring of the self. This defence mechanism is different from Tustin’s ideas about the autistic sensory blurring of the self through autistic objects and shapes. If this psychotic mechanism becomes fixed, it creates unique anxieties regarding the lack of self-nuclei. The constant projection of large parts of the self into outside figures creates a fear of rapid form transformation and poses unique challenges in analysis. A clinical example is given to illustrate these momentary states.","PeriodicalId":43581,"journal":{"name":"JOURNAL OF CHILD PSYCHOTHERAPY","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.4000,"publicationDate":"2022-05-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"1","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"JOURNAL OF CHILD PSYCHOTHERAPY","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1080/0075417X.2022.2086283","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q4","JCRName":"PSYCHOLOGY, CLINICAL","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 1
Abstract
ABSTRACT This article discusses a unique form of withdrawal observed in children with ASD, using a detailed case study. This withdrawal can be understood as linked to a psychotic organisation, in addition to the autistic aspects and early developmental difficulties in the sense of self. A child on the spectrum with psychosis makes for a unique case, because the psychosis rests on an early developmental impairment. In such cases, a fragile self uses disintegration of the mind as a mechanism that enables blurring of the self. This defence mechanism is different from Tustin’s ideas about the autistic sensory blurring of the self through autistic objects and shapes. If this psychotic mechanism becomes fixed, it creates unique anxieties regarding the lack of self-nuclei. The constant projection of large parts of the self into outside figures creates a fear of rapid form transformation and poses unique challenges in analysis. A clinical example is given to illustrate these momentary states.
期刊介绍:
The Journal of Child Psychotherapy is the official journal of the Association of Child Psychotherapists, first published in 1963. It is an essential publication for all those with an interest in the theory and practice of psychoanalytic psychotherapy and work with infants, children, adolescents and their parents where there are emotional and psychological problems. The journal also deals with the applications of such theory and practice in other settings or fields The Journal is concerned with a wide spectrum of emotional and behavioural disorders. These range from the more severe conditions of autism, anorexia, depression and the traumas of emotional, physical and sexual abuse to problems such as bed wetting and soiling, eating difficulties and sleep disturbance.