Psychic Retreats in Cluster C Personality Disordered Individuals: a qualitative case study

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 PhD Student, Department of Psychology, University of Kharazmi

2 PhD, Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Kharazmi

3 PhD, Associate professor, Department of Counseling, University of Kharazmi

Abstract

Introduction: Psychic retreat consists of a network of pathological object relationships and a system of defenses that serve to protect the patient against a range of anxieties. The aim of this study was to evaluate and understand the behavioral manifestations and symptoms corresponding to psychic retreats in individuals with cluster C personality disorder.
Method: The present study was a qualitative method based on a case study with a phenomenological-hermeneutic approach. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with three students with cluster c personality disorder. Sampling was purposive and the data were analyzed based on phenomenological interpretive analysis (IPA).
Results: The concepts identified from the interviews were clustered in nine sub-themes, which form the two main themes of psychic retreats. Based on the obtained patterns and structural explanation, the specific form of the retreat was explained to each participant: a psychic retreat based on shame and humiliation caused by the observer object, a psychic retreat based on grievances, and a psychic retreat based on anger and grievance and the struggle for power.
Conclusion: The results show that in all three personality disorders of cluster c, the pathological organization with the same nature and quality but with distinct symptom manifestations for each personality disorder has appeared in the form of psychic retreat. Psychotherapists' attention of the nature and function of psychic retreats and its role in creating therapeutic impasse and developmental interruption can be a window to better understand the position of the patient and the therapist and the richness of psychotherapy.

Keywords

References

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Journal of Clinical Psychology
Volume 13, Issue 4 - Serial Number 52
February 2022
Pages 103-116

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History

  • Receive Date: 29 December 2021
  • Revise Date: 09 January 2022
  • Accept Date: 20 February 2022

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