Morphoanalytic Therapy in Somatic Symptom Disorders

Abstract Morphoanalytic Therapy (MT) is an analytical psycho-corporal therapy that enables the integration of psycho-affective experiences from the body. It allows us to understand the psychic component of physical manifestation as well as the somatization of the psychic phenomenon. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of MT in people with somatic symptom disorder, in addition to observe the impact of this therapy on the personal life of these individuals. This is a case study of two individuals. Twenty-four MT sessions were performed once a week, lasting one hour each. The evaluations consisted of personal and anthropometric data collection, pain level and muscular flexibility, as well as of the presence of anxiety, depression and alexithymia, through questionnaires. Autonomic modulation was also evaluated. The psychoemotional evolution was followed during all morphoanalytic treatment. The efficacy of MT was observed in emotional and physical indexes. This demonstrates the effectiveness of this therapeutic modality, which associates bodily works with analytical verbal work, in the best psychosomatic integration.