Resilience in Holocaust Survivors: A Study of Defense Mechanisms in Holocaust Narratives

Békés, Vera; Perry, J. Christopher; Starrs, Claire J.

doi:10.1080/10926771.2017.1320344

Cited by 13 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…( 5 , 8 , 11 , 13 , 73 , 74 ), our results suggest that through an increase in mentalization, patients may adapt a healthier overall defense style by reducing maladaptive elements. Since numerous studies have highlighted the importance of well-performing psychological defense in the rehabilitation and preservation of mental health ( 22 , 24 , 28 , 29 ) as well as on humans' ability to adapt to and cope with severe medical conditions ( 27 , 30 , 31 ) and other forms of traumatizing life events ( 24 , 75 , 76 ), we consider interventions to foster mentalization as necessary in the reduction of maladaptive defense styles in psychotherapy. Regarding future research on psychological defense, our results suggest taking mentalization into account.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Increasing Mentalization to Reduce Maladaptive Defense in Patients With Mental Disorders

et al. 2021

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Background: There are indications of associations between the ability to mentalize and psychological defense mechanisms. However, only a few studies have focused on these associations, and even fewer have included empirical analyses. In the present study, we aimed to fill this research gap by analyzing the link between the ability to mentalize and psychological defense mechanisms in patients with mental disorders. We examined whether changes in defense mechanisms are predicted by an increase in mentalization or whether such changes are only related to reductions in psychopathology and interpersonal problems.Methods: A clinical sample of N = 89 patients was studied during and after inpatient psychiatric rehabilitation. Repeated-measures analyses of variance were performed to determine changes in mentalization, psychological defense, psychopathology, and interpersonal problems over the course of therapy and post-treatment. Linear regression analyses were used to predict the change in defense patterns based on an increase in mentalization.Results: Maladaptive defense mechanisms were significantly reduced during inpatient therapy and remained low until follow-up, whereas neurotic and adaptive defense mechanisms did not change significantly. The results of the regression analyses indicated that mentalization played an important role in the reduction in maladaptive defense during and after inpatient rehabilitation for mental disorders, whereas reductions in psychopathology and interpersonal distress were only partially associated with a reduction in maladaptive defense.Conclusion: We conclude that mentalization is vital for reducing maladaptive defense mechanisms, which are commonly associated with mental disorders. In therapy, an increase in patients' capacity to mentalize may be a practicable approach to diminish maladaptive defense mechanisms.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Increasing Mentalization to Reduce Maladaptive Defense in Patients With Mental Disorders

et al. 2021

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“…We found that different methods were used in the selected studies. Narrative interviews were the most frequently used method; twelve out of 22 studies utilizing this method (58,59,62,63,65,72,73,75,76,79,80,85). In these studies, participants were asked to recall the days before migration, and describe the genocide or conflict they witnessed during their migration journey and/or after resettling in the host country.…”

Section: Memory Activation Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The two articles with non-randomized study designs met all the relevant criteria (56,57). Six out of eight quantitative studies using descriptive designs neither indicated the sampling strategy nor recruited samples that were representative of the population (24,28,(58)(59)(60)(61). One mixed-method study (59) had a quantitative description design; however, it did not meet two criteria related to sampling strategy and representativeness.…”

Section: Appraisal Of the Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…One mixed-method study (59) had a quantitative description design; however, it did not meet two criteria related to sampling strategy and representativeness. All mixed-method studies met full MMAT criteria for qualitative and mixed-method studies (57,59,62).…”

Section: Appraisal Of the Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There were four studies (9,58,59,62) in which both adolescents and elderly participants appeared to be unable to recall any memory they reported previously, particularly traumatic, and stressful memories. In general, refugee people were less likely to recall self-distant memories compared to self-related memories (61).…”

Section: Retrieval Failurementioning

confidence: 99%

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A Systematic Review of Autobiographical Memory and Mental Health Research on Refugees and Asylum Seekers

2021

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Research examining trauma, memory, and mental health among refugee and asylum-seeking people has increased in recent years. We systematically reviewed empirical work focusing on the link between autobiographical memory and mental health among these populations. The review protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42018095888). Six major databases were searched in August-2020 with no time limit for publication. Following PRISMA Statement guidelines, 22 articles reporting ten quantitative, nine qualitative, and three mixed-method studies were selected from 254 articles identified in the initial search. A basic convergent and qualitative meta-integration technique was employed for data extraction. Four recurrent themes were extracted: (1) memory activation method, (2) memory features, (3) memory content, and (4) refugee mental health. Theme 1 illustrates that narrative interviews, important event recall, and cue word methods were used in most studies. Theme 2 highlights that memories of refugee people were often less specific, inconsistent, and negative-focused. Retrieval failure was also common among these people. Theme 3 reveals that refugee and asylum-seeking people frequently discussed their abandoned identities, lost resources, injustices, ongoing sufferings, and pointless futures. Finally, theme 4 identifies the prevalence of various mental health conditions like Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, depression, helplessness, and anger among these people. The results are discussed in the context of the current autobiographical memory and mental health theories, considering refugee-specific experiences in the asylum process and refugee status.

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Autobiographical memory and future episodic thinking among trauma‐exposed Rohingya refugee people

Khan

Haque

2022

Applied Cognitive Psychology

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Past research has shown that trauma‐exposed refugee people frequently report less specific autobiographical memories, but the characteristics of their future episodic thinking remain largely unexplored. This study investigated the specificity and emotional valence of autobiographical memory and future episodic thinking produced by 120 Rohingya refugee people resettled in Malaysia. The participants retrieved three autobiographical memories and produced three future episodes to three cue words. The Post‐Traumatic Stress Disorder‐8 Scale, Patients Health Questionnaire‐9, and Trauma Questionnaires assessed participants' PTSD, depression, and trauma exposures. Results revealed that nearly two‐thirds of the memories (64%) were overgeneral, and almost an equal number contained traumatic elements (63%). However, most future episodes were overgeneral (91%), and two‐thirds showed positivity bias (62.5%). The participants who retrieved more autobiographical memories with enhanced specificity also reported more future episodes with enhanced specificity. The higher PTSD and depression significantly predicted the reporting of overgeneral future episodes. Participants with a lower level of depression were more likely to report future episodes with enhanced positivity. The results indicate that therapeutic interventions targeting improving memory specificity and the positivity of future episodes could eventually improve refugee people's mental health.

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Resilience in Holocaust Survivors: A Study of Defense Mechanisms in Holocaust Narratives

Cited by 13 publications

References 31 publications

Increasing Mentalization to Reduce Maladaptive Defense in Patients With Mental Disorders

Increasing Mentalization to Reduce Maladaptive Defense in Patients With Mental Disorders

A Systematic Review of Autobiographical Memory and Mental Health Research on Refugees and Asylum Seekers

Autobiographical memory and future episodic thinking among trauma‐exposed Rohingya refugee people

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