Adolescence and Psychotic Phenomena


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Adolescence & Psychotic Phenomena

The Hellenic Association of Child & Adolescent Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy (HACAPP) organized a conference on the topic of:
ADOLESCENCE AND PSYCHOTIC PHENOMENA: FROM DEVELOPMENT TO PSYCHOPATHOLOGY
on April 4-6, 2014, in Athens,Divani Acropolis Palace Hotel.

Invited lecturers:

Margot Waddell, Fellow of the British Institute of Psychoanalysis, Consultant Child Psychotherapist in the Adolescent Dept. of Tavistock Clinic, London

Lut de Rijd, Psychoanalyst, Teaching member of the Belgian School of Psychoanalysis, Ηead of the intensive residential Psychotherapy for Adolescents, UPC-KU Leuven.

Luc Moyson, Trainer and Supervisor in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy of Leuven University, Belgium, Former Chair of the EFPP, Team coordinator in the Intensive Residential Psychotherapy for Adolescents, UPC-KU Leuven.

Greek lecturers:

Participating Associations: Hellenic Psychoanalytic Association (H.P.A.), Hellenic Association of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy (H.A.P.P.), Cyprus Association of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy (C.A.P.P.), Hellenic Association of Child and Adolescent Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy (H.A.C.A.P.P.).

Lectures:

M. Waddell(UK)The time of the stranger: A psychoanalytic look at adolescence and the complex relationships between development and borderline situations in the teenage years.

Abstract: This paper addresses the relationship between the various kinds of learning that take place during adolescence – the contrast between the balance or inbalance of those that Bion designated as learning from experience, or as learning about things, between K and -K. There can be a genuinely exploratoy and developmental purpose to the acquisition of knowledge, on the one hand, and a more questionable use, in terms of the motives and function of that knowledge, on the other. Through a number of clinical examples, the paper traces the factors that bear upon the internal relationship of the emotional and psychological experiences of early development and the external reality of the culture and circumstances of the transitional years. Both have a powerful bearing on the outcome of the adolescent years – whether developmentally stable, or pathologically disturbed.

L. deRijd (BΕ)How “crazy” is a madman? Psychoanalytic psychotherapy with psychotic adolescents.

Abstract: During adolescence psychosis is often closely related to adolescent development. This makes it very difficult to differentiate between an adolescent breakdown with psychotic symptoms and a structural psychosis. For that reason psychotic symptoms should be taken as a starting point for psychoanalytic psychotherapy to prevent, if possible, that the breakdown gets fixated into a more enduring psychosis and positive development is impeded. The dynamic view of psychopathology Klein and her followers, particularly Bion have, stating that psychotic and non-psychotic parts of the personality exist together in every individual, is very helpful here. Also important in the understanding of adolescent psychopathology is Bion’s thesis that psychosis develops when reality is too painful to be contained. For an adolescent, confrontation with incestuous wishes in a physically mature body can be too threatening to think about, so that a disorder of thought will result. Psychotherapy should aim at helping the adolescent to ‘think’ a painful reality. Some clinical vignettes will be given to demonstrate this.

L.Moyson(BΕ)Shame and scandal in the family: Working with families of hospitalized teenagers.

Abstract: Involving families in an in-patient treatment of adolescents is an absolute must. In my contribution, I would like to highlight some important shifts in the psychoanalytic thought process that influenced our work with families. I want to show how we approach the family intakes. As such, I will depict the therapeutic framework within which we develop our psychoanalytic approach and cover the quintessential place of the family therein. I will illustrate how the different team members work with the relatives of our identified patients. The choices that we made will be descibed as well as their consequences for our daily practice. In our work with parents and families, we are confronted with intense countertranference feelings and reactions, including the risks that these evoke. Clinical material will be used as illustration.

Association Lecture Banks

Ν.Tzavaras (coordinator), Α. Alexandridis, Ch. Zervis, Ch. Giannoulaki. [Hellenic Psychoanalytic Association (H.P.A.)]

Psychoanalytic view of psychotic movements during adolescence.

Ν. Hamperis (coordinator), D. Anagnostopoulos, , A.Stathopoulos, Ε.Soumaki, Κ. Talfanidis[Hellenic Association of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy(H.A.P.P.]

The road to adulthood. The entanglement of urges and narcissism.

[Cyprus Association of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy (C.A.P.P.)]

Banks and Workshops

Κ. Zervos (coordinator), V. Adamidou, V. Milia, Ε. Soumaki (Diagnostic and therapeutic unit for the child, S. Doksiadis) (D.T.U.C.S.D.)

Voluntary transformation of physical appearance, as a practice and defence to psychotic stress.

Ι. Vartzopoulos (coordinator), Ε. Zacharakopoulou, S. Manolopoulos.

City and adolescent

Ε. Soumaki (coordinator), D. Anagnostopoulos, Κ.Kanelea, Μ. Siokou (Ι.Ψ.Υ.Π.Ε.Κ.- Δ.Θ.Μ.Π.Σ.Δ.)

Confusion of adolescent identity formation, in family and society in crisis.

(coordinator), S. Hasilidi, Α. Fyriggou, Μ. Narnou (H.A.C.A.P.P.)

In search of identity: The narcissist and the other

(coordinator), Α.Mpartzoki, Ε.Evaggelopoulou, Ν.Taloumi (H.A.C.A.P.P.)

The narcissistic transfer-counter-transfer in adolescent psychotherapy.

Μ. Matsouka (coordinator), S.Anasontzi, Τ.Kavalierou, Ν.Katsarou (H.A.C.A.P.P.)

The therapeutic meaning of context in adolescent problematics.

S.Christogiorgos (coordinator), V.Vasilopoulou, Ε.Konstantaki, Μ. Petrou (H.A.C.A.P.P.)

Mental covers: Routes and diversions.

D. Tzikas (coordinator), Α.Apostolopoulou, Α. Kotroni, Μ. Papagounou (H.A.C.A.P.P.)

Eating disorders on the ground of a psychotic or borderline psyche structure.


Topics:

  • Development: narcissistic or regressive elements and phenomena.
  • Disorders: adolescent borderline disorders, adolescent narcissistic disorders and pathology, psychotic elements, psychotic reactions, psychotic function, psychotic personality, psychosis during adolescence.
  • Psychotherapy with significantly disturbed adolescents: technical issues, transfer-counter-transfer, outpatient or inpatient care, work with parents.
  • Psychosis or psychotic elements of the adolescent’s family.
  • Organization of defences in psychotic adolescents.
  • Symbolism disorders, embodiments.
  • Influence of external and internal factors.

Organizational committee: D. Anastasopoulos (chairman), Α. Agrevi,L. Anagnostaki, Ε. Konstantaki, A. Mpartzoki, Ο. Skleidi.
Scientific Committee: Ε. Lignou (chairman), D. Anastasopoulos, Α. Zacharia, Ο. Maratou, Μ. Matsouka, Ε. Staurou, D. Tzikas, Ε. Tsanira, S. Christogiorgos.
Honorary Scientific Committee: Α. Alexandridis, D. Anagnostopoulos, Α. Grigoriadou, V. Dimopoulos, Ch. Zervis, Ν. Zilikis, Ch. Ioannidis, G. Kolaitis, Ι. Panagiotopoulou, S. Savopoulos, Ε. Soumaki, Κ. Talfanidis.

Conference Language: Greek