Resumo de Freud And Autism

As an initial starting point, it would be useful to briefly outline psychoanalytic main key concepts and therapeutic techniques employed in treating Autistic Spectrum Disorders. Psychoanalysis has long been applied to the etiology of autism and its focus is confined to the idea that autism is caused by childhood early trauma, rather organic factors in the nervous system or brain (Morra, 2002). For instance, Bruno Bettelheim (1903-1990), probably one of the most prominent and influential theorists promoting psychoanalytic interpretations of autism, was convinced that autistic symptoms were defensive reactions against ?cold? and detached mothers (Trepagnier, 1998; Oliveira, 1999). However, a critique of Bettelheim?s work is supplied by Pollak (1997) who asserted that although Bettelheim claimed that 85% of his patients were cured after treatment, most of the children were not autistic. Pollak also argued that some reports presented in Bettelheim?s books were fraudulent and often fabrications. Nevertheless, it is important to consider that more recent psychodynamic therapists believe that ?mother blame? theories tend to be stigmatizing and contribute for an emotional disruption in parenthood-child relationships, and therefore are not helpful (Rutgers et al, 2004). Thus, the epistemology that informs current psychoanalytic thinking about infantile autism is gradually moving away from this traditional frame of reference (mother blame theories) by adopting more positive and constructive therapeutic interventions to ASDs (Sugarman, 2003). For example, play therapy has been adopted as one of the most important and efficient therapeutic techniques in helping autistic children (Scott, 1998; Joyce & Stoker, 2000). This form of therapy allows children to express emotions that would otherwise be too difficult to discuss with an adult (Rowe, 1995; Carroll, 2000). Furthermore, it provides alternative ways through which autistic children?s anger can be channelled by introducing themes of aggression and of this being done in a playful way (Richard & Chessick, 2000). However, this intervention technique generated controversy and criticism due to the fact that it relies on little experimental research (Edelson, 2001). In addition, the clinical data in which it is based upon is prone to be flawed and inaccurate because it just reflects therapists? interpretations (Grünbaum, 1986; Loftus, 1993). References:
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