Original scientific paper
Psychodynamic Aspects of Adaptation and Treatment of Psychotrauma: Study Results
Dolores BRITVIĆ
Vesna ANTIČEVIĆ
Vesna KEKEZ
Branka LAPENDA
Ivan URLIĆ
Abstract
War trauma is putting high adaptation requirements on coping
mechanisms. This research was set up to examine differences in
levels of psychological adaptation in three groups of war
veterans and the efficacy of group psychotherapy. The first
group consisted of war veterans with PTSD that were treated
with group psychotherapy. The second group consisted of war
veterans that weren't treated with group psychotherapy. The third
group consisted of war veterans that were not diagnosed as
suffering from PTSD. The research tools applied were: CAPS,
Crown-Crisp Experiential Index, and Life-Style Questionnaire.
The obtained results demonstrated that the first group showed
significantly less pronounced symptoms of PTSD than group two.
Significantly higher scores for anxiety and somatisation were
found in the first two groups, while depression was found
expressed in all three groups. Projection was found to be the
dominant defense mechanism in all groups. The mechanism of
regression was found to be significantly more frequent in the
group treated with group psychotherapy. The exposure to war
trauma might favor the development of depression and the use
of immature mechanisms of defense even when the clinical
picture of PTSD is not developed. Group psychotherapy
decreases some PTSD symptoms, but it does not influence
anxiety, depression and immature mechanisms of defense.
Keywords
PTSD; adaptation; trauma; group psychotherapy
Hrčak ID:
19081
URI
Publication date:
30.6.2007.
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