Hunger Diseases (Master Work Series)

by Raymond Battegay

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0765700980
• ISBN13: 9780765700988
• Release Date: June 1997
• Publisher: Jason Aronson
• Length: 157 Pages
• Weight: 0.54 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.4" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Understanding insatiability; psychoanalytic view

Anorexia, bulimia, cardiovascular disorders, diabetes -- all stem from emotional hunger, according to Battegay. These and other disorders of self-esteem are discussed by this compassionate and careful Swiss psychoanalyst. This is not a 'blame the victim' thesis, but a psychoanalytic exposition of a disturbing and pervasive European and American mental health topic. According to Battegay, several discrete disorders have at their root early emotional (and sometimes physical) unmet hunger and /or a crazy-making lack of infant tactile stimulation. Result:adolescents and adults with bottomless cravings for love and/or attention; sometimes food, alcohol, drugs; and attendant insatiable longings. "Eating disorders" are but one of the symptoms of this dysfunction. A chapter on diabetic patients, and another on gastrointestinal disease are especially interesting.Lots of hard data. His findings and those of other researchers and observers seem well-grounded, his observations are often quite keen, but some of his sociopolitical conclusions now seem a bit outdated.However, he has a treatment plan which is sensible and compassionate. Some of his data is forty years old -- but still relevant. The epilogue contains kind and wise 'advice' for the future. Worth reading.