O Teste das Relações Objetais de Phillipson (TRO) em Pacientes com Narcolepsia

Abstract

Narcolepsy is a chronic brain disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness and sleep attacks. It affects up to one in a thousand people. Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep phenomenon such as cataplexy, sleep paralysis and hypnagogic hallucinations can also occurs. The condition affects on every aspect of life harming professional performance and personal relationships, besides increasing accident risks. It is believed to be caused by an interplay between genetic and environmental factors. This aim of this research was to describe the major psychodynamic aspects in a group of narcoleptics patients and verify the level of them psychic balance. The present study characterizes a sample of 19 patients suffering from narcolepsy, of which 13 female and 6 male patients, 44 years-old in average. Mind functioning dynamics was assessed by Phillipson’s Object Relations Test (ORT) according to psychoanalytic theoretical basis. The study showed adaptive ego tendency however negative resultants to give freedom in satisfactory relationships. The most frequent feelings were: affective links desire, sexual and aggressive impulse control and frustration escape. The fear related to lost or separation, persecutory guilt and annihilation appeared consequent to desires. Defense mechanism of schizoparanoid position was the most common: idealization, paralyzation, omnipotent control and denial conflicts. Also revealed difficulty in personal links, using escape and avoiding mechanisms mostly in group or triangle situations.