Social Psychiatry, Vol. 52 No. 3, 2024.
Review article
https://doi.org/10.24869/spsih.2024.233
Empathy Towards Alcohol Use Disorder and Psychodynamic Understanding: A Narrative Review
Zrnka Kovačić Petrović
; University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb. Croatia; University Psychiatric Hospital Vrapče, Zagreb, Croatia;
Mirta Blažev
; Institute of Social Sciences Ivo Pilar, Zagreb, Croatia
Tina Peraica
orcid.org/0000-0001-7098-3282
; Dubrava University Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Zagreb, Croatia; University Department of Forensic Sciences, University of Split, Split, Croatia
Lea Kozina
; University Psychiatric Hospital Vrapče, Zagreb, Croatia;
Dragica Kozarić-Kovačić
; University Department of Forensic Sciences, University of Split, Split, Croatia
Abstract
Although alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a serious and complex mental disorder, it is still surrounded by numerous doubts,
misunderstandings, lack of support and lack of empathy from the environment and the health profession, because most
people consider that the individual caused it on their own. The purpose of this narrative literature review is to answer the
research question regarding empathy towards AUD and the psychodynamic understanding of patients with AUD by using
the database literature (Web of Science, PubMed, and Google Scholar) published in the last 60 years. The contemporary
psychodynamic understanding of AUD based on the ego and self-psychology of development of the individuals with this
disorder is presented, as well as a psychodynamic explanation for the lack of empathy provided by healthcare professionals
and the society, despite it being an accepted medical model of understanding addiction. Contemporary psychoanalytic
understanding of AUD is linked to suffering, which is opposite from pleasure seeking (especially according to neuroscientists)
and the earlier psychodynamic formulations (pleasure seeking or motives for self-destruction), because seeking relief from
alcohol is mainly a consequence of the addicted individual’s inability to regulate their emotions (anxiety, depression), selfesteem,
interpersonal relationships and behavior, especially their self-care. From a clinical perspective, it is important to
understand the construct of empathy towards patients with AUD, as well as AUD from a psychodynamic aspect, in order
to understand the psychological background of addictive behavior and increase empathy in the treatment of addictive
disorders by combining psychotherapeutic, behavioral-sociotherapeutic and pharmacotherapeutic approaches.
Keywords
Alcohol Use Disorder; Empathy; Psychodynamic Understanding; Treatment
Hrčak ID:
322579
URI
Publication date:
17.9.2024.
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