Journal de psychologie et psychothérapie
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Psychological Defense and Strategies of Coping in Alcohol Dependence and Co-Dependence in Women

Bokhan NA, Mandel AI, Stoyanova IYa and Mazurova LV

Comparative study of adaptive-defensive complex in women with alcohol dependence and co-dependence has been carried out. Concept of adaptive-defensive complex presupposing systemic consideration of ways of psychological defense and strategies of coping in aspect of reciprocal addition has been proposed. It has been identified that defensive complex in co-dependence is characterized by combination of psychological defensive styles of “neurotic” and “psychopathic” types. Defensive complex in alcohol dependence is characterized by “psychopathic” type. In women with alcohol dependence and co-dependence, adaptive-defensive complex (ADC) is characterized by lesser efficacy as compared with norm and is characterized by lability with alternating predominance of neurotic and psychopathic forms of reaction, excessive use of psychological defense according to type “reactive formation, regression and compensation”, moderate use of substitution and denial as well as low level of intellectualization, projection and repression. A specific of maladaptive strategies in alcohol dependence and co-dependence has been noticed. In the case 1, predominance of maladaptive strategies “denial” and “dissimulation” and decrease of “constructive activity” has been revealed; in co-dependence predominance of “dissociation” is substantial. Thereby coping strategies according to type “avoidance” lose their functional directedness and become closer to psychological defenses according to criterion of passivity.