MENS-SANA-IN-CORPORE-SANO, OR EXERCISE ABUSE - CLINICAL CONSIDERATIONS

The national preoccupation with health, body functioning, and appearan ce has made physical exercise a common and widespread activity. Exerci se undoubtedly helps to promote and maintain health and could be easil y overlooked as a manifestation of different kinds of psychopathology. The author proposes a dynamic view of the meaning of exercise that he lps in distinguishing three different categories: healthy-neurotic, co mpulsive, and addictive. Clinical vignettes illustrating each group ar e offered, as well as psychological characteristics found in the cours e of psychotherapy that would be helpful in the assessment, treatment, and prognosis of individuals with difficulties in this area.