"Meanwhile I'm a Convinced 'Psychosomat'"—Case-Study of a Young Female Adult With Diabetes Mellitus Type 1 and Severe Anorexia

Abstract

We report about a 19-year-old female patient with diabetes mellitus type 1 and severe anorexia, who presented with life-threatening unstable metabolic imbalance. It is illustrated how these two illnesses interfere and influence each other and how they may be used to express two central conflicts, which are described in the Operationalizing Psychodynamic Diagnoses (OPD). This paper describes in particular the significant role of the psychotherapist who has to manage the conflicting emotions of the patient. Furthermore, the dilemma in the treatment is also discussed. On the one hand there is the attitude that treatment should be based on dialogue, care and understanding, yet on the other hand the treatment options should not be discussed with the patients. URN: urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs0501366

Keywords

• Diabetes mellitus type 1
• eating disorder
• Operationalizing Psychodynamic Diagnoses
• management of conflicts