Representation of psychosomatic disturbances: metaphor and metonymy

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the expressive capacities of our psychosomatic patients. We invited them to represent their illness in a drawing through the design test. Following this, we investigated 43 patients affected with bronchial asthma, 30 patients affected with refractory massive obesity and compared them with a control group of 25 'normal' subjects (medical students in a situation where stress and anxiety were strongly suspected as they were awaiting to sit for an examination in the Medical School). The two patient groups showed quite relevant differences as to their own expressive modalities in the use of metaphor and metonymy, which are considered as the graphic representation means of the illness.