Análise simbólica dos aspectos psicossomáticos da artrite reumatoide na perspectiva da psicologia analítica

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis is a rare inflammatory autoimmune disease, from unknown etiology. This study consists in an analysis of the symbolic dimension of this condition, from the psychosomatic perspective based on the analytical psychology theory. To this end, a review of the recent literature was made in order to achieve a broader comprehension of autoimmune phenomena, while focusing more specifically on the relationship between body and psyche as expressed in rheumatoid arthritis The prevalence, symptoms, evolution of the disease and the most used treatments were pointed out. The symbolic meaning of these characteristics was explored and illustrated with therapeutic material from a patient assisted by Denise Ramos (2006). It was possible to verify that the psychosomatic approach of analytical orientation allows a deeper understanding of rheumatoid arthritis, by treating the individual as a whole. By overcoming the psyche-soma duality, this approach proposes deeper interventions with more lasting effects than those aimed only at reducing symptoms