Fantasized recipient–donor relationships following lung transplantations

A qualitative case analysis based on patient narratives

Bibliographic Data

ID8970924
AuthorsMarius Neukom (Dr. phil. Marius Neukom, University of Zurich, Department of Psychology; Clinical Psychology, Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis, Binzmühlestrasse 14/16, CH–8050 Zürich, Switzerland, corresponding author), Valentina Corti (Dr. phil. Marius Neukom, University of Zurich, Department of Psychology; Clinical Psychology, Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis, Binzmühlestrasse 14/16, CH–8050 Zürich, Switzerland), Brigitte Boothe (Dr. phil. Marius Neukom, University of Zurich, Department of Psychology; Clinical Psychology, Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis, Binzmühlestrasse 14/16, CH–8050 Zürich, Switzerland), Annette Boehler (Dr. phil. Marius Neukom, University of Zurich, Department of Psychology; Clinical Psychology, Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis, Binzmühlestrasse 14/16, CH–8050 Zürich, Switzerland), Lutz Goetzmann (0000-0003-3260-897X, University of Zurich)
Year2011
Volume93
Issue1
Pages117-137
Publication date2011-09-28
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueThe International Journal of Psychoanalysis (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0020-7578 • E-ISSN: 1745-8315
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/j.1745-8315.2011.00496.x
PMID22320138
OpenAlexW2129767237
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited18

The present study examines the relationships between lung transplant recipients and their unknown, deceased donors. Out of 20 semi-structured interviews, eight narratives, by three female and three male recipients respectively, were identified in which the figure of the donor played a role. These narratives were examined using JAKOB, a qualitative research tool that analyses relational configurations and diagnoses psychodynamic conflicts. Analysis revealed a broad range of varying themes and relationships with equally varying wish and fear themes. All the narrators dealt either explicitly or implicitly with whether and how they are connected to their donors. In five narratives, specific personality traits were attributed to the figure of the donor; in four narratives, latent feelings of guilt concerning the donor's death were expressed. Indeed, the figure of the donor was not always perceived as an independent person, separate from the narrator's self: in two cases, the donor appears as part of the recipient's self, while in another case, the donor is presented as a transitional object for the recipient. The findings of the narrative analysis are discussed within a theoretical model of psychical organ integration

Developmental psychology · Feeling · Literature · Narrative · Narrative inquiry · Organ donation · Personality · Psychoanalysis · Psychodynamics · Qualitative analysis · Qualitative research · Sociology · Medicine · Organ and Tissue Transplantation Research · Polyomavirus and related diseases · Psychology · Social Psychology · Surgery · Transplantation · Transplantation: Methods and Outcomes

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