Psychological mechanisms of the formation of non-psychotic mental disorders in patients with hyperthyroidism

Abstract

The application of a comprehensive, integrative, systemic approach to the examination of patients with abnormal thyroid gland has to lie in the basis of planning strategies and tactics of medical programs such patients. On this point of view we consider that non- psychotic mental disorders are developing on the basis of both organic and adaptation levels. Population researches showed that the majority of patients with endocrinological pathology suffer from one of the three DCPR syndromes: irritant mood, demoralization thrown in (desperation), persistant somatization. The task of our work was to investigate mechanisms of psychological defense in patients with hyperthyroidism with non-psychotic mental disorders. One hundred and twenty-five patients were examined. Non-psychotic mental disorders with different syndromologic structure were found in 76% of patients (study group), among which anxious-asthenic (38.95%), anxiety and depression (23.16%) were dominant. The method of Robert Plutchik for assessment of the mechanisms of defense was used. In asthenic syndrome we found excessive functioning of negation and regression, inadequate functioning of intellectualization. In patients with astheno-anxious syndrome inadequate functioning of negation, intellectualization, compensation, and excessive repression contributed to the formation of the sensations of anxiety. Excessive compensation, projection, reactive formation generally affected the structure of the asteno-depressive syndrome. The lack of displacing of reactive formation, repression and excessive intellectualization in a complex influenced to the structuring of anxious-depressive syndrome. In hypochondrical syndrome projection, regression and negation were the basis of the formation of clinical picture. Thus, meaningful relationships between intrapsychic level of functioning and syndromological structure of non-psychotic disorders were installed.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.