Construing the unspeakable: A constructivist approach to catatonia by means
of modified Landfield categories
Heinz Böker*, Cordula von Schmeling**, Andrea Eppel**, Cynthia
Lenz**
*Psychiatric University Hospital Zürich (Switzerland), **Department
of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Frankfurt/Main
(Germany)
Abstract
Personal constructs of catatonic patients after recovery from the acute
state of disease were investigated with the repertory grid-technique and
compared with those of non-catatonic schizoaffective and depressive patients.
The sample consists of IS catatonic patients, 22 schizoaffective, 16 unipolar
and 23 bipolar depressive patients as well as of 32 psychiatrically healthy
surgical controls. The contents of the personal constructs were analysed
by means of modified Landfield categories.
"Self" and "Ideal self" in catatonic patients were characterised by
significantly higher emotional responsiveness and increased affective sensibility
than in all other groups. The element "me in the acute catatonic state"
was described as chaotic, isolated and insecure showing stronger negative
tendencies than in all other groups.
Increased emotional responsiveness and affective sensitivity in catatonic
patients could be considered as specific markers of personal constructs
in these patients. Catatonia with its predominance of psychomotor symptoms
may be understood as the catastrophic result of the collapsing cycles of
construction in psychoses.
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