Anna Terruwe

Dr. Anna A. A. Terruwe (Vierlingsbeek August 19 1911 - Deurne April 28 2004) was a Catholic psychiatrist from the Netherlands. She discovered emotional deprivation disorder and how obsessive-compulsive disorder could be healed: the "bevestigingsleer," the idea of "affirmation." [Emotional Deprivation Disorder [http://www.conradbaars.com/edd.htm Conrad W. Baars, M.D.] , Retrieved on April 14, 2008] Terruwe based her work on that of Thomas Aquinas and "the relevance of Thomistic rational psychology to neurosis and its treatment." Her work is also based on that of Professor W.J.A.J. Duynstee, C.SS.R., LL.D. who studied Aquinas. Her theories are based on Aquinas’ understanding of what he calls the "nature of man."

Church ban

Dr. Terruwe made church history in the fifties. After complaints of some Jesuits a high ranking Dutch Jesuit (Dr. Sebestian Tromp) of the Holy Office issued a ban: it was forbidden for priest students to see 'female psychiatrists' (there was only one: Dr. Terruwe). At the time there were still many priest students and quite a few religious superiors sent some of them to see Dr. Terruwe for their emotional distractions. Rome also ordered Terruwe's protector Prof. Duynstee to come to Rome in exile. Within ten years the Vatican had to admit that a terrible error of judgment was made. Prof. Duynstee's ban was lifted and it was said that he had become a cardinal if his sudden death had not prevented it. Dr. Terruwe was not only rehabilitated, Pope Paul VI would also have consulted her.Terruwe suffered a great deal but her solidarity with her Church remained firm. People considered her to be one of the 'spiritual liberators' of Dutch catholicism. She herself did not yield to progressive catholics who wanted her to take their side. She remained a solid advocate of celibacy for priests and of a no to artificial birth control.

United States

The ideas about the nature of man and his emotional life are discussed in depth in the first chapter of "Psychic Wholeness and Healing" by her and Dr. Conrad W. Baars, M.D., who took Terruwe's ideas and treatment to the United States.

Dr. Terruwe embraced the spiritual aspect of the human person in the treatment of her patients. Her ideas included topics about man’s emotional life, his intellect and free will, how "love is the passion of the intellect," and how the "nature" of man’s emotional life is to "follow reason." The discussion continues into topics of affirmation and what it means to be "authentically human."

Dr. Baars discovered her work and went on to translate some of her work into English and further the work on "Emotional Deprivation Disorder" and the repressive disorders. She discovered "Frustration Neurosis" in the 1950s (also known as "Deprivation Neurosis", but now called Emotional Deprivation Disorder). She also discovered that repressive disorders (e.g. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or Scrupulosity) could be healed by teaching patients a correct understanding of the emotional life. [cite book | last = Terruwe | first = Anna A. | authorlink =
coauthors = Conrad W. Baars | title = Psychic Wholeness and Healing: Using ALL the Powers of the Human Psyche | publisher = Alba House | date = 1981 | location = Staten Island, NY | pages = | url = | doi = | id = | isbn = 0818904100] [cite book
last = Baars | first = Conrad W. | authorlink = | coauthors = Suzanne M. Baars and Bonnie N. Shayne | title = Feeling and Healing Your Emotions | publisher = Logos International | date = 1979, 2003 | location = Plainfield, NJ | pages = | url = | doi = | id = | isbn = 0882709666 ]

Last years

Dr. Terruwe was active in her profession till very late in her eithies. There have always been a circle of friend and admirors around her. Shortly after her death in 2004 they edited a book "Bevestiging - erfdeel en opdracht". De University of Nijmegen issued recently an Anna Terruwe Award for an outstanding paper in this field.

Bibliography

*"The Abode of Love". St. Meinrad, IN: Abbey Press, 1970.
*"Affectiviteit – effectiviteit" : breekpunt van menselijk leven: over waarde-overdracht in het onderwijs. Lochem: De Tijdstroom, 1988.
*"De frustratie neurose". Amsterdam: Anthos, 1998.
*"De liefde bouwt een woning". Bussum: Romen, 1978.
*"De toename van agressie, suïcide en druggebruik binnen de consumptiemaatschappij". Lochem - Gent: De Tijdstroom, 1986.
*"Emotional Growth in Marriage". Glen Rock, NJ: Paulist Press, 1968.
*"Geloven zonder angst en vrees". Roermond: J.J. Romen, 1969.
*"Give Me Your Hand". Trans. Martin Van Buuren. Croydon, Victoria: Spectrum Publications, 1973.
*"The Neurosis in the Light of Rational Psychology". Trans. by Conrad W. Baars. New York: P.J. Kenedy & Sons, 1960.
*"Opening van zaken". In Usum privatum. Nymegen, 1964.
*"Ouders en kinderen op weg naar de toekomst". Lochem: De Tijdstroom, 1976.
*"Psychopathic Personality and Neurosis". Trans. Conrad W. Baars. New York: P.J. Kenedy & Sons, 1958.
*and Baars, Conrad W. "Loving and Curing the Neurotic: A New Look at Emotional Illness". New Rochelle, NY: Arlington House, 1972.
*and Baars, Conrad W. "Psychic Wholeness and Healing". Staten Island, NY: Alba House, 1981.
*and Kroft, A.L. "De stap over de drempel: moderne visies op hulpverlening bij menswording van mentaal gehandicapte mensen". Baarn: Arbor, 1993.
*and Van Cranenburgh, H.P."Hooglied van de nieuwe liefde: antropologie van de weerhoudende liefde". Baarn: Gooi en Sticht, 1996.

References