Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the defense styles and the personality dimensions that are related with relapse to alcohol use 12 months after inpatient treatment in male alcohol dependents.

Methods: Participants were 70 consecutively admitted male alcohol dependents. Among these patients 44 were available to examine after 1 year. Patients were investigated with the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) and Defense Styles Q (DSQ) at baseline.

Results: Among 44 alcohol dependent inpatients 61.4% (n=27) were considered as relapsed to alcohol use. Current age was lower in relapsed group. Age at regular alcohol use, duration of education, regular income did not differ between groups. Rate of history of self-mutilation and/or suicide attempt at baseline were higher in relapsed group. Rate of changing social environment during 12 months after inpatient treatment was lower in the relapsed group, whereas using drugs and spending time with substance using friends were higher in this group. Mean scores of “acting-out”, “devaluation” and “displacement” were higher in the relapsed group. Also same immature defense styles predicted relapse together with self-directedness (SD). When current age was included in the analysis, being younger and high acting-out predicted relapse in alcohol dependents after inpatient treatment.

Conclusions: Clinicians must be careful for younger alcohol dependents with lower SD and for those who use immature defense styles (particularly acting-out) since these variables may be related with relapse.

Key words: Alcohol dependence, character, defense styles, relapse, temperament