Biomedical subjects

J J van Egmond

Publications and source records attributed to J J van Egmond.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Beyond secondary gain.

Research suggests that a conscious desire for external illness gain can have internal unconscious effects, in that subjective symptoms can be heightened by external reward. This mechanism can be explained on the basis of Freud's later work, in which he mentions two types of resistance, which resemble each other--the need to be punished and the need to be ill. The concept of the need to be ill can explain why in modern society, with its established systems of support, regulations, and procedures that are conducive to illness behavior, patients who consciously strive for external gain can experience strengthening feelings of being ill and even deterioration without being aware of this process.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

The multiple meanings of secondary gain.

The historical development of the concept of "secondary gain" is described in this article. Freud introduced this concept as a complement to "primary gain." Freud modified the scope of both concepts during his career, but they remained within the boundary of an intrapsychological mechanism. Outside psychoanalysis, the concept of secondary gain has acquired further meaning with higher emphasis on interpersonal and social aspects. Consequently, it is often unclear what a writer or speaker means when he uses the term secondary gain. The different meanings of secondary gain in and outside psychoanalysis are illustrated with reference to literature and case reports.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Secondary gain and the need to be ill].

INTRODUCTION: Freud introduced two concepts of illness gain-one was a more external conscious adaptive form of gain, called secondary gain, and the other was a more internal unconscious destructive form of gain, called the need to be ill. Both forms of illness gain are interdependent and secondary gain can generate a need to be ill. METHOD: Empirical research was used to examine the question of how and why some disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, repetitive strain injury, and whiplash injury, are liable to generate illness gain in affected individuals. RESULTS: This article describes how and why these disorders are becoming more common. CONCLUSIONS: It is important for the therapist to know the background of these disorders in order to be able to combat the associated secondary gain.

Attitude to Health↗