Hilde Bruch Bria Taylor Contributing Scientists Mental Health Starnes pd.#6 1/14/09

Hilde Bruch personal life history Hilde Bruch is recognized as one of the World’s leading authorities on emotional problems related to eating disorders. Born March 11, 1904 in a small German town of Dulken. She was the third of seven children. Although Bruch wanted to be a mathematician, her uncle who financed her education after her fathers death convinced her medicine was a more practical choice for a Jewish woman. She received her doctorate in medicine from the University of Freiburg in Bruch worked at an East End Maternity Hospital and the Child Guidance Clinic in London for a year. In September of 1934 Bruch left for the United States and found a job at Babies Hospital in New York obtaining her license in pediatric in 1935 and her American citizenship five years later. Between 1941 and 1943, Bruch studied psychiatry at John Hopkins University in Baltimore and went through psychoanalytic training with Frieda Fromm-Reichmann and Harry Stack Sullivan. When returning to New York, she established a private practice in psychoanalysis and became affiliated with the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University, where she was appointed clinical associate professor in 1954 and professor in In 1964, she accepted a position as professor of psychiatry at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, where she remained even after her retirement in Hilde Bruch was an outspoken individualist who relished her independence and rebelled against any form of authoritarianism. She was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and died December 15,1984.

Theory presented Bruch argued anorexia (an eating disorder where people starve themselves) is the result of disturbed mother-child interactions which led to ego deficiencies including a poor sense of autonomy and control, manifest through disordered eating patterns. According to Bruch, some mothers fail to attend appropriately to their young child’s needs as a result of prioritizing their own needs over those of the child or misunderstanding their behavior. As a result of this, Bruch believed the child would grow up confused and unaware of their own internal needs, not knowing for themselves when they are hungry or full. That they would not be able to identify their own emotions. A cycle that begin where these children then failed to respond to their children effectively. These children usually become struck and unable to be independent and judge their own sense of self.

Theory Accepted or Rejected? The medical explanation is lesser accepted because it is possible the cause can be in the hypothalamus of the brain in some type of “override” in the brain with anorexia, weight loss and various chemical imbalances; all related to this part of the brain. Another reason it wasn’t accepted fully is due to the fact the psychological part in the human body can occur way before the anorexia physical abnormalities. Although in contrast it was accepted based on the physical impact of the disorder and damage it could cause.

Hilde’s Contribution (Opinion) Hilde Bruch theory is a very valid and sufficient theory presented based on the fact parents are the main influence in children lives. If a parent is going through a physical damage or insecurity I believe it is safe to say it can and will affect the child. Whether this will affect them once they reach an older age is unknown due to the child themselves and how they might deal and cope with the situation. The child is subject to their own choice in life once older but if taught by the mother that this is the right way they might consider this their way of life. It is best anorexia mothers seek counseling and understanding of their disorder.