The evaluation of the image of intrusive mother in Anorexia Nervosa by use of projective tests

This study includes the examination of early relationships through projective tests between the mother and the adolescent who had been diagnosed as anorexia nervosa. The aim of the study is to reveal the effect of the mother image whom anorexia nervosa patients have and its effect on the psyche of these patients. With this purpose, the study is carried out with four anorexia nervosa patients aged between 13 and 17 and their families. Two of the patients were hospitalized in the Department of Psychiatry Eating Disorders Policlinic at the Faculty of Medicine in Istanbul University during the study period; while the other two patients were treated in a private psychotherapy center in Istanbul. These patients, who volunteered to participate in the study, were first interviewed together with their families before being interviewed privately by a psychoanalytic preliminary interview and the application of Rorschach and Thematic Apperception Tests. The data obtained from the Rorschach Test and Thematic Apperception Test were evaluated with content analysis method adhering to the French School. Findings from the results of content analysis indicate that adolescents who are anorexia nervosa patients perceive the mother image as intrusive, hold on to a childish superego structure in the face of parental authority caused by problems that they had in a preodipal period and fantasies oriented to maternalism lead difficulties on separation-individation process. Findings show that these patients, who have both desire and anxiety for separation from their mothers, have ambivalent feelings in their relationships with their mothers. Keywords: Anorexia nervosa, mother-child relationship, projective tests, separation-individuation, intrusive.