A psychoanalytic interpretation of bipolar disorder. (2nd April 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ventimiglia, Giancarlo
• Is Part Of: International forum of psychoanalysis. Volume 29:issue 2(2020)
• Page Start: 74
• Page End: 86
• Publication Date: 2020-04-02
• Subjects: bipolar disorder, mania, identification; Psychoanalysis -- Periodicals; 150.195
• DOI: 10.1080/0803706X.2018.1518595
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0803-706X

Abstract

Abstract: The author proposes viewing mania as a form of defense against the state of depression resulting from "narcissistic overidentification with the depressive object" (i.e., the object in relation to which the depressive state developed), rather than as a periodic rebellion against such an internalized object. An account of the analytic psychotherapy of a clinical case of bipolar depression serves to illustrate this point of view, linked to the author's specific conception of the dynamics of depression.