Case report

https://doi.org/10.24869/spsih.2019.199

Somatization as a Defence from Narcissistic Injury

Zrnka Kovačić Petrović orcid.org/0000-0001-8763-9090 ; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Medicine and University Psychiatric Hospital Vrapče, Zagreb, Croatia
Tina Peraica orcid.org/0000-0001-7098-3282 ; University Hospital Dubrava, Department of Psychiatry, Referral Center for Stress-related Disorders of the Ministry of Health, Zagreb, University of Split, Department for Forensic Sciences, Split, Croatia
Dragica Kozarić-Kovačić orcid.org/0000-0003-3239-2056 ; University of Split, Department for Forensic Sciences, Split, Croatia

Abstract

Somatization disorder is characterized by a tendency of a person to communicate psychological distress and emotional conflicts through physical symptoms, while somatization is a psychological mechanism manifesting psychological distress and emotional conflicts as physical symptoms that lack an organic basis. It can develop as a single disorder or a mental disorder comorbid with other disorders, especially co-occurring with mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and personality
disorders (most commonly, histrionic and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders). In most cases, people suffering from such disorders seek help from general practitioners or at healthcare facilities specialized for physical disorders. It is only after this that they seek psychiatric assistance. The treatment of people suffering from so-called somatoform disorders is complex, time-consuming and demanding and
it requires a broad spectrum of psychiatric skills. However, it rarely yields positive outcomes. This research paper focuses on a case study of a patient with histrionic behaviour who experienced a conflict situation at work as a narcissistic injury. The narcissistic injury triggered the development of a dramatic clinical picture in the form of somatization and, consequently, the development of the somatization disorder.
The inability of a person with a histrionic personality disorder to confront an injury of self can trigger somatization as a defence mechanism. The treatment requires careful identification of the root cause, the so-called trigger that initiated the development of the disorder, and the confrontation of a patient with the psychological and emotional etiology of his/her symptoms. Such an approach has a profound impact on a more positive outcome of the therapy. However, timely detection of somatization is important, among other things, to avoid unnecessary physical diagnostic procedures and to enable the normal performance of social and occupational roles of a patient.

Keywords

Somatization; Narcissistic injury; Histrionic personality disorder; Treatment

Hrčak ID:

221996

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/221996

Publication date:

3.7.2019.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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