Original scientific paper
Defense Mechanisms in Alcohol Dependent Patients with Oral and Oropharinegal Cancer
Daniela Petrić
Tanja Frančišković
Mirna Juretić
Zoran Šuković
Mirjana Graovac
Sanjin Rački
Tatjana Ružić
Dolores Britvić
Abstract
The effects of psychological factors in alcoholics with malignant tumor of the oral cavity and oropharynx are scarcely
explored. The aim of the research was to examine early family relations and investigate differences in the use of defense
mechanisms in alcohol dependent patients suffering from malignant tumor of the oral cavity and oropharynx compared
to alcohol dependent persons without malignant tumors and healthy controls. The research included 51 alcohol dependent
patients treated for malignant tumor of the oral cavity and oropharynx at the University Hospital Center Rijeka from
2005 to 2009. The control groups corresponded to the experimental group in age, sex and education level. The research
used a general demographic questionnaire, the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview and the Revised Questionnaire
of Life Style and Defense Mechanisms. The research groups showed significant differences in difficult childhood
(p<0.001) including abuse (p=0.004). The alcohol dependent persons suffering from malignant tumors of the oral
cavity and oropharynx significantly less frequently used primitive defense mechanisms of regression (p=0.004) and displacement
(p=0.013) compared to alcoholics without malignant tumors who significantly more often used neurotic defense
mechanisms – compensation (p=0.005) and intellectualization (p<0.001). The earliest emotional experiences and
quality of family relations affect the development of defense mechanisms. These are the psychological factors in the development
of oropharyngeal cancer in alcohol addicts.
Keywords
defense mechanisms; oral and oropharyngeal cancer; alcohol dependent patients
Hrčak ID:
72178
URI
Publication date:
30.9.2011.
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