The association between reflective function and global functionality in patients with borderline personality disorder

Objective: To examine the association between reflective function and global functionality in borderline personality disorder (BPD) patients, controlling for symptomatology and defensive style. Method: Thirty-nine female inpatients were evaluated employing a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Structured Clinical Interview for Personality Disorders-II (SCID-II), the Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20), the Reflective Functioning Questionnaire (RFQ), the Defence Style Questionnaire-40 (DSQ-40) and the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF). Results: Functionality was inversely associated with the reflective function uncertainty score (–.458; p < .01) and neurotic defences (–.335; p < .05). Symptom severity (SRQ-20) was associated with the use of immature defences (–.445; p < .01). The association between functionality and the reflective function uncertainty score remained significant, even when controlled for symptoms and defensive style ( p = .002). Conclusion: The ability to mentalise seems to play a central and somehow independent role in BPD psychopathology.

The Mediating Role of Defensive Mechanisms in the Relationship between Social Phobia and Alexithymia in University Students

Introduction: Psychological factors play a key role in people's emotional responses to different social situations. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of defense mechanisms in the relationship between social phobia and alexithymia, in the students of Farhangian University, Sari City, Iran. Materials and Methods: This was an analytical, correlational study that specifically used structural equation modeling. The statistical population included all students of the Farhangian University of Sari city, Iran, in the academic year of 2019-2020. A sample of 234 people was recruited with the available sampling method. The social phobia inventory, defense mechanism questionnaire, and Toronto alexithymia scale were used to measure the research variables. Finally, the proposed model was evaluated using structural equation modeling. Results: The results showed that social phobia variables, undeveloped defensive mechanisms, and psychotic defensive mechanisms are positively correlated with alexithymia. Also, there is a significant negative correlation between developed defensive style and alexithymia (P = 0.001). The results indicated significant correlations of social phobia (r = 0.28), undeveloped defensive style (r = 0.31), psychotic defensive style (r = 0.28), and developed defensive style (r = -0.30) with alexithymia (P = 0.001). Moreover, the research model was approved: defensive mechanisms mediate the relationship between social phobia and alexithymia in the students. The defensive mechanisms and social phobia affect 48% of the alexithymia variable. Conclusion: The students with adaptive defensive mechanisms experience lower social phobia and alexithymia symptoms. Also, social phobia indirectly affects alexithymia through the mediating role of defense mechanisms.

The Relationship of Defensive Styles and Islamic Quality of Life with Death Obsession in Women with Breast Cancer

Introduction: Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in women with an increasing outbreak. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between defensive styles and Islamic quality of life (QoL) with death obsession in women with breast cancer. Methods: This research was a correlational study. The statistical population of the study included 220 female patients with breast cancer; referring to Cancer Patients Association of Gorgan in 2019. According to Krejcie and Morgan’s table, 136 women were selected from breast cancer patients by simple random sampling. Islamic QoL questionnaire of Mohammad Namaqi et al., defense styles questionnaire of Andrews et al., and obsession with death questionnaire of Abdel-Khalek were applied. Data were analyzed; using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, Pearson correlation, and stepwise regression. Results: The results showed that there was a negative significant relationship betweenthe developed defensive style and the Islamic QoL with death obsession (P=0.001). There was a positive significant relationship between the neurotic and undeveloped defensive style with the death obsession (P=0.001). In addition, the results of the regression showed that the Islamic QoL (-0.257) and developed defensive style (-0.196) had the potential for predicting the obsession of death. Conclusions: These results emphasize the necessity of the role defensive styles and Islamic QoL on the death obsession. So, therapists and counseling in the treatment of cancer for reducing obsession may benefit from paying attention to Islamic QoL and defensive styles.

Avaliação de Resultados de Psicoterapia Psicodinâmica Breve em Contextos Institucionais

Esse estudo de casos múltiplos investigou a efetividade da psicoterapia psicodinâmica breve (PPB) e o processo de mudança intra e interpessoal de pacientes atendidos em uma empresa. Participaram do estudo 03 funcionários com queixas psicológicas diversas. A coleta dos dados incluiu medidas de auto relato para a avaliação da mudança da psicoterapia (OQ-45 - Outcome Questionnaire), sintomas psicopatológicos (BSI - Brief Symptom Inventory), mecanismos de defesa (DSQ- 40-Defensive Style Questionnaire) e empatia (EMRI-Escala Multidimensional de Reatividade Interpessoal), aplicadas na 1ª, 6ª e na 12ª sessão (término do tratamento). Em todos os casos foi constatado abrandamento sintomatológico e melhora nos relacionamentos interpessoais e em dois casos as mudanças sintomáticas foram clinicamente significativas e confiáveis. O estudo sugere que a PPB pode promover mudanças significativas na saúde mental dos trabalhadores e que as intervenções mais efetivas são aquelas que incidem sobre crises. Estudos em maior escala são necessários para generalizar os achados.

Contest coefficients of the elite judo athletes of Russia and Kyrgyzstan (less than 60 kg, 66 kg, 73 kg and 81 kg) from 2010 till 2015

Study aim. The specialists note that the latest changes in the rules of judo have a negative impact on the quality of competition between the athletes representing the Russian Federation and the CIS countries. In connection with this the goal of the research was to search for the objective and informative criteria for assessing the level of preparedness of the judoists in Russia and Kyrgyzstan for conducting competitive fights. Another purpose of the research was to analyze the readiness level of the elite judo athletes from Russia and Kyrgyzstan to conduct competitive attacking fight in conditions with the significant changes of the rules of judo competitions based on the selected criteria. Methods. The total number of the judoists – n = 176. The athletes competed in categories less than 60, 66, 73 and up to 81 kg. The time period for the research is 6 years (from 2010 to 2015). The level of the athletes’ readiness was determined by comparing the competitive coefficients (CC) of the judoists. The authors attribute to the significant CC of the number of won and lost technical actions, activity in a duel and time intervals between the attacking actions. CC values ​​were determined by the method of analyzing the competitive judo matches. For the analysis, the specialists were involved: the high-level coaches and international judges – n = 16. The number of the studied judo competition – 4032. Results. Comparative analysis of the CC showed that the athletes of all weight categories reliably (P <0.001) reduced the time interval between attacking actions in the matches. At the same time, the number and quality of Nage-waza technical actions of the athletes of the weight categories less than 60 and 66 kg were revealed. Data CC significantly (P <0.01) increased in judoka categories to 73 kg. Besides, the athletes less than 81 kg did not show significant changes in the Nage-waza quantity and quality factors. It should also be noted that the number of lost Nage-waza receptions of the athletes of categories less than 60 and 66 kg has been reduced. The authors suggested that the judoists of light weight categories formed a defensive style of conducting competitive matches on the whole. Moreover, this style is characterized by a reduction of the risk of attacking Nage-waza actions and an increase in the number of Ne-waza receptions. The most meet the requirements of the modern judo CC athletes less than 73 kg. Consequently, the judoists less than 81 kg according to the majority of the CC have not significantly improved the quality of the competition during the research. Conclusions. Furthermore, in view of the new rules of the IJF for conducting an active attack training of the judo wrestlers for competitive activities should be based on the CC athletes. CC wrestlers are determined by the method of the mathematical analysis of the competitive fights of the athletes for certain time periods. Increase and decrease of data CC is an informative indicator of the level of readiness of a judoka in a certain component of the competition. However, the analysis of the CC judoists of the combined teams of Russia and Kyrgyzstan showed that the athletes of weight categories less than 60, 66 and 81 kg formed a generally defensive style of fighting. Besides, this style is aimed at keeping the gained advantage through the false activity and increasing the technique of Ne-waza. The most adapted to the modern requirements of IJF were the athletes weighing up to 73 kg.

Aplicação da TRI na versão brasileira do Defensive Style Questionnaire (DSQ)

Atualmente, alguns autores entendem que os mecanismos de defesa são organizados em um continuum que varia de imaturo a defesas mais maduras. Sob essa perspectiva, foi desenvolvido o Defensive Style Questionnaire 40 (DSQ-40), sendo um instrumento de autorrelato composto por 40 itens que devem ser respondidos em uma escala Likert de sete pontos, distribuídos em três fatores (maduro, neurótico e imaturo). O DSQ-40 foi traduzido e adaptado para o Brasil e teve suas propriedades psicométricas verificadas por meio da Teoria Clássica dos Testes (TCT). O presente estudo teve como objetivo verificar os parâmetros dos itens e pessoas obtidos por meio do modelo de escala graduada para o DSQ-40. Para tanto, foram recrutados 105 parti¬cipantes com idade entre 19 e 49 anos (M = 23,64; DP = 5,14), sendo 59 mulheres. As análises realizadas sustentam a unidimensionalidade dos fatores do instrumento, sugerem a adequação de uma escala Likert de três pontos para o instrumento, confirmam que os mecanismos de defesa mais adaptativos são mais comuns na população e demonstram índices de fidedignidade satisfatórios de acordo com os níveis de theta dos sujeitos.

Aplicação da TRI na versão brasileira do Defensive Style Questionnaire (DSQ)

Atualmente, alguns autores entendem que os mecanismos de defesa são organizados em um continuum que varia de imaturo a defesas mais maduras. Sob essa perspectiva, foi desenvolvido o Defensive Style Questionnaire 40 (DSQ-40), sendo um instrumento de autorrelato composto por 40 itens que devem ser respondidos em uma escala Likert de sete pontos, distribuídos em três fatores (maduro, neurótico e imaturo). O DSQ-40 foi traduzido e adaptado para o Brasil e teve suas propriedades psicométricas verificadas por meio da Teoria Clássica dos Testes (TCT). O presente estudo teve como objetivo verificar os parâmetros dos itens e pessoas obtidos por meio do modelo de escala graduada para o DSQ-40. Para tanto, foram recrutados 105 parti¬cipantes com idade entre 19 e 49 anos (M = 23,64; DP = 5,14), sendo 59 mulheres. As análises realizadas sustentam a unidimensionalidade dos fatores do instrumento, sugerem a adequação de uma escala Likert de três pontos para o instrumento, confirmam que os mecanismos de defesa mais adaptativos são mais comuns na população e demonstram índices de fidedignidade satisfatórios de acordo com os níveis de theta dos sujeitos.

Ego Psychoanalytic Rorschach Interpretation

This article concerns the utility of ego psychoanalytic perspectives in Rorschach interpretation. Psychoanalytic ego psychology focuses on how people cope with events in their lives and how effectively they can meet challenges to their sense of well-being. The way people deal with experienced distress constitutes their defensive style and determines to a large extent what kind of person they are. Adequate defenses against anxiety promote comfortable and productive adjustment, whereas ineffective defenses typically cause adjustment difficulties and susceptibility to psychological disorders. In Rorschach assessment, the nature and effectiveness of a person’s defensive style can often be identified with a sequence analysis that integrates the structural, thematic, and behavioral features in the protocol. In particular, the sequential quality of responses, especially preceding and following instances of cognitive slippage, can help identify causes of upsetting concerns, defensive efforts to alleviating these concerns, and the adequacy of these defensive efforts in restoring equanimity. This interpretive process is illustrated with attention to implications for differential diagnosis and treatment planning in the Rorschach protocol of a 20-year-old suicidal woman.