1. [Bodily aspects of mentalization: a therapeutic focus in the treatment of patients with severe medically unexplained symptoms].
- Author
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Spaans JA, Veselka L, Luyten P, and Bühring ME
- Subjects
- Humans, Imagery, Psychotherapy, Psychotherapeutic Processes, Psychophysiologic Disorders therapy, Psychotherapy methods
- Abstract
Background: Our knowledge about medically unexplained symptoms (mus) is increasing, but translating this knowledge into more effective treatment, particularly if symptoms are severe, continues to be problematical., Aim: To clarify the physical aspect of mentalisation (body-mentalisation) and to outline a theoretical perspective of body-mentalisation, starting from theories such as the attachment theory and the mentalisation theory, and to describe the diagnostic and therapeutic value of this approach., Methods: Clinical experience with body-mentalisation led to a systematic literature search (via PsycInfo and Medline)., Results: Body-mentalisation is the ability to detect the signals of our own and of other, to respond to them and perceive the links with underlying mental states. Poor body-mentalisation occurs frequently in patients with severe mus and can be treated successfully by means of intensive residential or day-therapy programmes., Conclusion: Body-mentalisation may turn out to be a useful concept in connection with the treatment of persons with severe mus. More research is needed to test the diagnostic validity and therapeutic relevance of this concept.
- Published
- 2009