pieghevole

Rage and mourning dynamics in the institutions and organizations (1) (Room 2)
Lisa Gardiner
Presenter Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist and Forensic Psychotherapist,
Ravenswood House, Knowle, Hampshire, UK
FORENSIC HOSPITALS AND PATHOLOGICAL ORGANIZATIONS:
DESTRUCTIVE NARCISSISM IN THE INTERNAL WORLD AND IN THE
SOCIAL DEFENCE SYSTEM
PDestructive narcissism is an important feature of the internal worlds of patients
in Forensic Hospital settings. The development of this idea has led to
concepts such as the claustrum, the claustro-agoraphobic dilemma and the
psychic retreat. These further help to understand the murderous internal
worlds of our patients.
However, patients are often held in a hospital setting. The development of
theories around social defence systems as a means of managing anxiety in
institutions has high relevance to the task of caring for Forensic in-patients.
These also help to focus our attention on the internal worlds of the staff working
in these settings.
There is a great deal of resonance between the concept of the Pathological
Organisation and the Social Defence Systems that evolve in Forensic Institutions.
This presentation aims to consider the two theoretical models and
their relevance – not only to working in a Forensic Hospital setting but in
how these interplay to prevent the work of mourning as an essential task for
patients and staff in an institution set up to contain the most frightening and
dangerous individuals in society.
Methods: PowerPoint presentation / workshop with participant discussion of
theoretical and clinical material
PARALLEL SESSION / Organizations and Institutions
77