[Psychodynamic and coping processes in patients with physical illnesses].

Abstract

Psychodynamic and coping processes in patients with somatic diseases are described on the background of clinical case examples. Here the connection between coping and defending is discussed whereby the special characteristics of somatic disease are taken into consideration. The secondary function, which a somatic disease can gain in an intrapsychic balance system which was already in a weak or dysregulated state is also discussed. Finally the role of social support in coping with somatic diseases is described. From this different therapeutic consequences for patients with somatic diseases are derived.