Hypochondriasis, acting out and counter-acting out.
The clinical picture of hypochondriasis is clear, the psychopathological structure less so. Hypochondriasis is characterized by a particular kind of acting out, basically medical, which in turn is likely to evoke medical counter-acting out on the part of the therapist. Acting out may be 'broad', as a character trait, and 'narrow', in close connection with the psychotherapeutic process. The medical acting out of the hypochondriac, 'broad' prior to therapy and occurring outside of the therapy situation, in the course of therapy becomes 'narrow' and contained within the boundaries of therapy.
Granek
M
M
Geha Psychiatric Hospital, Beilinson Medical Center, Petah Tikva, Israel.
D000184:Acting Out; D000328:Adult; D003379:Countertransference; D006801:Humans; D006998:Hypochondriasis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D009769:Object Attachment; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011575:Psychoanalytic Therapy; D012803:Sick Role; D014167:Transference, Psychology