The Collapse of Potential Space in Adolescents with Psychosomatic Disorders

Abstract

The study applies Winnicott’s (1971 ) conceptualization of potential space to explore psychosomatic phenomena as manifested in Rorschach protocols of two adolescent outpatients. This approach for understanding psychosomatic disorders is based on Ogden’s (1986 ) model for defining different forms of collapse of potential or transitional space between reality and fantasy. Following Smith (1990 ), who applies this conceptualization to Rorschach work, the study compares data related to cognitive functioning derived from the Rorschach Comprehensive System (CS; Exner, 2003 ) from protocols of two adolescents with psychosomatic symptoms. The study also compares the results of a Rorschach index, the Reality-Fantasy Scale (RFS; Tibon, Handelzalts, & Weinberger, 2005 ), to detect different types of psychopathological manifestations conceptualized as forms of collapse of potential space. The results point toward substantial differences between the two protocols that are interpreted in terms of forms of collapse of potential space, demonstrating reality collapse into fantasy being revealed by one protocol and fantasy collapse into reality by the other. In conclusion, because similar psychosomatic pictures in adolescents might represent different, often apparently opposite, psychopathological states, using the Rorschach in adolescents with psychosomatic symptoms seem particularly important for revealing these states. Implications for treatment are discussed.