Psychological defenses in patients with autonomic nervous system disorder

Abstract

In order to identify psychosocial characteristics of individuals with autonomic nervous system disorder (ANSD), 104 patients of the organized population of Petrozavodsk (n=104; mean age 36.8±10.7 years; gender index 1:1) were examined. The control group included healthy individuals (n=30; mean age 36.1±5.5 years; gender index 1:1; p=0.761). The ANSD diagnosis was confirmed by means of the Questionnaire for identifying signs of vegetative changes and the Study scheme for detecting signs of vegetative disorders (Vein A.M. et al., 2003), as well as by palpatory examination using the Markelov-Naryshkin method. The calculation of the Kerdo index in the patients with ANSD showed a predominance of sympathicotonia (40.38% and 50.0% of cases among men and women, respectively) over parasympathicotonia (21.15% of the patients without gender differences). In addition, psychological defenses (PD) were investigated using the method of the Life Style Index (LSI) (R. Plutchik, H. Kellerman, R. Conte, 1979). It was found that the patients with ANSD were characterized by an increase in the overall stress index of psychological defense mechanisms due to “regression” (22.28±15.45 (0) / 35.57±14.6 (9.33±5.31)), “projections” (23.97±17.61 (10.78±3.59) / 31.23±18.05 (12.83±6.11)), and “substitutions” (20.43±12.74 (5.65±1.15) / 16.29±10.85 (6.67±3.98)), with statistically rarer use of “denial” (36.71±15.42 (47.68±13.98) / 34.18±17.64 (51.8±14.37) percentiles among men with ANSD (healthy individuals) / women with ANSD (healthy individuals); p=0.001). Gender specificity was noted only in relation to the PD “reactive education”, with its predominant use by women 37.88±23.71 (compared with 23.27±19.37 percentiles in men; p<0.01). The identified psychosocial predictors are aimed at timely diagnosis and optimization of medical and psychological rehabilitation of patients with ANSD.