EPV023 - Alcohol as an unproductive strategy for coping with psychological distress in depressive disorders
EPV023
Alcohol as an unproductive strategy for coping with psychological distress in depressive disorders
T. I. Medvedeva 1, S. N. Enikolopov 1, O. Y. Vorontsova 1, O. M. Boyko 1,*, M. I. Oleychik 1
1clinical psychology, Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution Mental health scientific center, Moscow, Russian Federation
Introduction: Alcoholism is quite often combined with other mental illnesses. There are two aspects of the interaction between alcoholism and mental disorder: the influence of mental disorder on alcoholism, and the possible influence of alcohol on mental disorder.
Objectives: The aim of the study was to analyse the specifics of alcohol use by patients with depression, assessment of the connection with ego identity.
Methods: 77 patients (31.2% male, mean age 21.8±4.3) with depressive states (F31.3-4; F34.0; F21.3-4+F31.3-4; F60.X+F31.3-4).
Alcohol consumption was assessed using the ‘alcohol consumption’ scale of The questionnaire for diagnosing manifestations of psychological distress (Rasskazova, Sadovnichaja, 2022) was developed for research by E.G. Demenko (Demenko et al., 2018). Based on this scale, the subjects were divided into two subgroups: ‘No alcohol consumption’ (N=24) and ‘Alcohol consumption’ (N=53), that did not differ in terms of socio-demographic indicators.
SCL-90-R, Cambridge Depersonalisation Scale (CDS), Ammon Ich Structur Test (ISTA) measures personality traits formed as a result of early relationships with significant others, Constructive Thinking Index (CTI), Questions about the propensity for risky behavior (answers on a Likert scale) were used. Subgroups were compared using analysis of variance in SPSS.
Results: The results showed that the group ‘Alcohol consumption’ had higher scores on the SCL-90R scales, dissociative phenomenology (CDS), categorical thinking (СТI), high level of destructive internal and external ego demarcation (ISTA) (see Tabl.). The ‘Alcohol consumption’ group also has a higher level of risk-taking behaviour (20% in the no-alcohol group versus 50% in the alcohol group).
Tabl. 1. Comparison of subgroups without and with alcohol consumption
|
No alcohol consumption (N=24) |
Alcohol consumption (N=53) |
Sig. |
|
SCL-90R GSI Global Severity Index |
1,112±0,585 |
1,602±0,653 |
,002 |
|
SCL-90R PSI Positive Symptom Total |
45,750±17,718 |
59,415±18,170 |
,003 |
|
ISTA Destructive Aggression |
55,283±8,809 |
62,174±9,755 |
,004 |
|
ISTA Destructive Anxiety/Fear |
68,965±11,990 |
75,521±12,600 |
,036 |
|
ISTA Destructive Outer ego demarcation |
55,343±14,897 |
63,483±12,071 |
,013 |
|
ISTA Destructive Inner ego demarcation |
53,717±8,694 |
62,886±9,249 |
,000 |
|
CDS _ASR |
10,813±8,773 |
16,250±8,851 |
,039 |
|
СТI _Categorical Thinking |
34,606±6,932 |
41,155±10,008 |
,001 |
Conclusions: Alcohol consumption in mental illnesses is associated with higher rates of psychopathological symptoms, categorical thinking, and a tendency to risky behaviour. The data obtained suggest that a significant role is played by EGO- integration disturbance (rigid boundaries, destructive fear, pathological narcissism, destructive aggression), which are associated with higher rates of the alcohol consumption. Alcohol can be considered as a vulnerability factor for mental disorder, and alcohol can be used as an unproductive coping strategy in cases of severe psychological distress.
Disclosure of Interest: None Declared