PSYCHOLOGICAL DEFENSE MECHANISMS AND THEIR ROLE IN ASSESSING THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE

  • V.V. Khramtsova State Institution «The Ukrainian State Research Institute of Medical and Social Problems of Disability of Ministry of Health of Ukraine»
Keywords: psychological defense mechanisms, quality of life, activity limitation

Abstract

Individual protective mechanisms determine the characteristics of the psychological adaptation and affect the quality of life of patients. Objective: To investigate the psychological defense mechanisms and their role in assessing the quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) of dust etiology. Materials and Methods: 102 patients with COPD of dust etiology were examined with the techniques: Life Style Index, SF-36. Results and discussion: The most important psychological defenses were the “negation” (95.1%), “intellectualization” and “reaction formation” (82.4%). These psychological defenses resulted in  significant decrease in quality of life and their subsequent psychological maladjustment. Conclusions: The use of protective psychological defenses by patients with COPD of dust etiology severely limits their functioning, reduces their assessment of mental and physical status as well as social activity.

Published
2015-08-04
Issue
No. 3(43) (2013): Journal of the Grodno State Medical University
Section
ORIGINAL STUDIES