THE “PSYCHOSOMATIC FAMILY” RECONSIDERED: DIABETES IN CONTEXT–A REPLY

Minuchin, Rosman and Baker's (1978) Psychosomatic Families: Anorexia Nervosa in Context, is a work that does demonstrate that physiological disturbance of some, very specifically defined, diabetic patients serves a function in their families. Statistical analyses of the original data are reported which strongly support the original conclusions; Coyne and Anderson's (1988) presentation of the methodology and findings of the original study is shown to substantially misrepresent information actually presented in the book. Review of the literature they cite was informative about some aspects of poorly controlled diabetes for a variety of populations but not relevant for psychosomatic patients; however, some of it supported our findings. Responsibility for “constraining” and/or “providing momentum” for the field is rejected and precise and rigorous thinking encouraged in developing both studies and critiques.