How To Treat Psychopathy

How to treat psychopathy

To begin with, the psychopathology object of this essay will be schizophrenia or early dementia. WHO defines this disorder as "a type of mental illness characterized by a distortion of thought, perceptions, emotions, language, self-awareness and behavior". In schizophrenia there are positive and negative symptoms. The former are framed in context of hallucinations, distorted thoughts and delusional ideas;On the other hand, the negatives are those that imply a decrease in the psyche: social isolation, apathy, difficulty in carrying out the usual tasks. Depending on these symptoms, several types of schizophrenia are distinguished: paranoid, catatonic, hebephrenic and undifferentiated.

First, we will talk about the possible causes of this disease. It is important to mention that the cause of the disease is not yet known;However, there are potentially involved factors in the appearance of the disease. The genetic component is undoubtedly one of the main factors, many studies with twins show the high probability of inheriting this disease of parents. It can also influence the development of this psychopathology, some alteration in brain development during pregnancy. However, genetic load is not usually the trigger for the disorder, the beginning of symptoms depends more on environmental and social factors. The latter are decisive in the manifestation and subsequent development of psychopathology. Among the main risk factors, are environmental and social are: poverty, social exclusion, stress, unemployment, childhood traumas, etc.

Childhood traumas are of great importance, since it is estimated that two thirds of schizophrenic patients have suffered abuse of some kind during childhood.

From a psychoanalytic approach, this disorder has been deeply studied by the creator of Psychoanalysis Sigmund Freud and by many more psychoanalysts (Lacan, Jung, …). Freud devised a whole theory based on libido, autoerotism, narcissism and the self. Libido, is sexual impulse. This one when satiated with the body itself, is what is known as autoerotism, it can also be satisfied with the self, what is known as narcissism. The I can only accept a fixed amount of libido, if accumulated according to Freud would get sick;Therefore, libido will emanate towards objects from outside, and return to the self from them. Then, the libido will reside in the self and in the objects. In this way it is explained that there is a "struggle" between libido and the self, which will form a balance, and the disease will be caused when the self is unable to dominate the libido.

In schizophrenia crises, libido from outside returns to the self, and from the self goes to the autoerotic phase. At this time the self will be altered, and the depersonalization of the patient will occur. The schizophrenic will not be recognized and will feel external to itself, this would explain the delusions and the decrease of the psyche. So the psychosis of schizophrenia will be caused by a stagnation of libido yoica, which cannot flow.

During psychosis, the self to try to defend against libido. To do this, it will detach from the objective reality to get rid of the libido from abroad. To compensate for the lack of reality, the self will create a new one, which will cause hallucination. Then, hallucination will turn out to be a method of defense of the self that will allow you to avoid sexual impulse stagnations.

To treat this disorder, psychoanalysis considers that it is originated in a conflict in the unconscious. Therefore, its action will base on the principle of free association. This is based on establishing a conversation with the patient in which he will be asked to state all the ideas that arise, regardless of the absurd or ashamed that may be. It is important that you do not hide any idea since it could generate resistances, which is what is intended to be overcome. With the data extracted, we will try to access the past traumas that are not accessible by consciousness, through the unconscious. How much greater freedom the patient has, the more the unconscious can be penetrated. 

For this, a correct performance of the psychoanalyst is necessary who must mainly be listened. The cure will consist of getting the patient to understand the conflicts of his unconscious. The patient to be able to know the functioning of his unconscious can better control psychosis since he may be able to distinguish the real from the non -real. Although a total cure of schizophrenia is not achieved, patient can better face psychosis and with the support of antipsychotics can enjoy a normal life.