Personality and Defense Styles: Clinical Specificities and Predictive Factors of Alcohol Use Disorder in Women

ABSTRACT

This study investigated personality traits and defense styles in order to determine clinical specificities and predictive factors of alcohol use disorders (AUDs) in women. A female sample, composed of AUD outpatients (n = 48) and a control group (n = 50), completed a sociodemographic self-report and questionnaires assessing personality traits (BFI), defense mechanisms and defense styles (DSQ-40). Comparative and correlational analyses, as well as univariate and multivariate logistic regressions, were performed. AUD women presented with higher neuroticism and lower extraversion and conscientiousness. They used less mature and more neurotic and immature defense styles than the control group. Concerning personality traits, high neuroticism and lower conscientiousness were predictive of AUD, as well as low mature, high neurotic, and immature defense styles. Including personality traits and defense styles in a logistic model, high neuroticism was the only AUD predictive factor. AUD women presented clinical specificities and predictive factors in personality traits and defense styles that must be taken into account in AUD studies. Implications for specific treatment for women are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Alcohol use disorder
• defense mechanisms
• defense styles
• personality
• women

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Mrs. Angélique Excoffier, Mrs. Shirley Leignel, Mrs. Mélanie Pacitto (Clinical Psychologist), and Dr. Marie-Christine Iséni (MD) for their help in recruiting women. The authors are also indebted to the women who agreed to participate and complete the questionnaires. Finally, the authors would like to thank Carol Robins for editorial assistance in English.