(1951). Psychoanalytic Quarterly, 20:77-92 The Traumatic Effect of Surgical Operations in Childhood on the Integrative Functions of the Ego Two clinical examples of operations in early childhood which produced phobic symptoms and character defenses are presented to demonstrate how traumatic effects occurred because they mobilized neurotic tendencies already present. As David Levy (4) has pointed out, surgical operations are most likely to be traumatic when they are performed on very young children before the personality is organized. Helene Deutsch (1) has discussed the traumatic effects of operations on adults, and their significance as symbols of birth or castration, according to previously established neurotic patterns. Children whose adaptation to reality and the process of learning has already been made very difficult by severe Oedipal anxiety, strong guilt over masturbation, etc. may have reactions to the additional psychological trauma of an operation that are fragmented, isolated, and partially repressed. Unconscious reactions to knives and anesthetics may give rise to special symptoms. It is interesting [This is a summary or excerpt from the full text of the book or article. The full text of the document is available to subscribers.] |
