Typus melancholicus and melancholia: Theoretical synthesis using a clinical case

L'Encéphale
J Englebert, Giovanni Stanghellini

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to propose, starting from the description of a clinical emblematic case, a theoretical synthesis of the work of phenomenological psychopathology dedicated to melancholia and typus melancholicus (TM), a clinical concept that describes the premorbid personality vulnerable to major depression ("melancholia" for the psychopathological tradition). This is a phenomenological analysis of a case study of melancholia, of its premorbid personality and pathogenic triggering situation. We adopt two main phenomenological keys to understand the development of melancholia: a role-identity theory and desynchronization theory. The former understands melancholia as a disorder of identity triggered by the loss of the social role with which one has previously over-identified. The latter sees melancholia as the effect of the desynchronization from the social environment that further develops into an inhibition of the cognative-affective dynamics of life. We present the case of Jonas (64 years old), whose mother (94 years old) recently died. Before his mother's death, Jonas' life was entirely orchestrated by the caring for his mother and synchronized in time with this (e.g., he used to go to her house every 4 hours, had all ...Continue Reading

References

May 3, 2006·Journal of Affective Disorders·Giovanni StanghelliniAndrea Raballo
Mar 20, 2010·Journal of Affective Disorders·Giovanni Stanghellini, René Rosfort
Jan 11, 2013·L'Encéphale·R BelzeauxJ M Azorin
Jan 11, 2013·L'Encéphale·J-M AzorinA Kaladjian

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Citations

Jul 18, 2018·International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry·Olivier TibleArmin von Gunten

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