My recently completed PhD explored the illness experience of Freud’s patient Anna von Lieben, using a qualitative research methodology – Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis – to analyse her previously undiscovered autopathographical poetry. The analysis, supplemented by a reading of her husband’s diaries and other family documentation, indicated that the patient’s pathology was due primarily to a longstanding gynaecological condition, possibly endometriosis. The overall findings led to the identification of several new avenues of research which I would like to offer for the consideration of researchers in the field of Medical Humanities/Narrative Medicine. My proposals also draw on the work of Nezhat, Nezhat and Nezhat (2012)* who suggest that, throughout history, many of the women diagnosed with hysteria were in fact suffering from endometriosis, or something similar.
On this basis, I have formulated the following ideas:
The amount of new primary material which I obtained from the von Lieben family archive would in itself be sufficient for a number of researchers. Added to this is the substantial bank of archival information which I have built up in the course of my own research. I would like therefore to offer the above ideas as a ‘provocation’ to stimulate further investigation. I will not be undertaking any more substantial academic activity myself, but I would be happy to act as a facilitator for others, putting my knowledge and resources at their disposal, and passing the baton on to the next generation of researchers.
My methods and findings are summarised in the Abstract of my doctoral thesis, In her own words: Exploring the subjectivity of Freud’s ‘teacher’ Anna von Lieben. The thesis itself can be accessed at https://theses.gla.ac.uk/82795/
If you would like further information, or to engage in some exploratory discussion, please contact me at hilda.reilly@glasgow.ac.uk
*Nezhat, C., Nezhat, F., & Nezhat, C. (2012). Endometriosis: Ancient disease, ancient treatments. Fertility and Sterility, 98(6), 1-62.
On this basis, I have formulated the following ideas:
- a study of ‘hysterical’ patients of the 19th century to identify and further explore those with gynaecological co-morbidities
- a qualitative analysis comparing the lived experiences of 19th-century ‘hysterical’ patients manifesting gynaecological symptoms and those of present-day endometriosis sufferers
- a historical investigation over several millennia designed to find evidence in support of the Nezhat theories.
The amount of new primary material which I obtained from the von Lieben family archive would in itself be sufficient for a number of researchers. Added to this is the substantial bank of archival information which I have built up in the course of my own research. I would like therefore to offer the above ideas as a ‘provocation’ to stimulate further investigation. I will not be undertaking any more substantial academic activity myself, but I would be happy to act as a facilitator for others, putting my knowledge and resources at their disposal, and passing the baton on to the next generation of researchers.
My methods and findings are summarised in the Abstract of my doctoral thesis, In her own words: Exploring the subjectivity of Freud’s ‘teacher’ Anna von Lieben. The thesis itself can be accessed at https://theses.gla.ac.uk/82795/
If you would like further information, or to engage in some exploratory discussion, please contact me at hilda.reilly@glasgow.ac.uk
*Nezhat, C., Nezhat, F., & Nezhat, C. (2012). Endometriosis: Ancient disease, ancient treatments. Fertility and Sterility, 98(6), 1-62.
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