Exploring the psychopathology of anorexia nervosa: a Mahlerian standpoint.
OBJECTIVE
Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder that extends beyond the well-known phenomenon of self-starvation to include dynamic psychological themes of autonomy and ego disturbances as well as self-regulation through eating disordered behaviors.
Exploration of these themes within Mahler's (1975) object relational framework provides the opportunity to examine the genesis of these themes during early psychological ego development and how they may characterize the development of the anorectic experience.


CONCLUSIONS
The Mahlerian perspective can provide psychiatric nursing with a psychoanalytical perspective outside of standard practice, thus promoting critical analysis and integration among the varying professions of psychiatry.
Newton
Mandi
M
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. mandinewton@ualberta.ca
D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D011582:Psychological Theory