Egosyntonic is a medical term referring to behaviors, values, feelings, which are in harmony with or acceptable to the needs and goals of the
ego, or consistent with one's ideal
self-image. It is studied in detail in
abnormal psychology. Many
personality disorders are considered egosyntonic and are therefore nearly impossible to treat.
Anorexia Nervosa, a hard-to-treat Axis I disorder, is also considered egosyntonic because many of its sufferers deny that they have a problem.
It is the opposite of egodystonic. Obsessive compulsive disorder is considered to be an egodystonic disorder, as the thoughts and compulsions experienced or expressed are not consistent with the individual's self-perception.
