Psychodynamic Aspects in Patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

Abstract

The paper by Rabin et al.[l] of the Vanderbilt School of Medicine (Nashville) in which he relates his own experience as an ALS patient is more effective than any review of the literature in understanding the psychological impact of this disease. Before introducing our psychodynamic approach to the psychological problems of this ‘incurable’ illness, we will review some data from the few psychiatric studies that have been published on this topic. We shall focus on four aspects which have been dealt with by different authors: the personality of the patients, the defense mechanisms, the locus of control and the problem of depression.