Maier
Fakultäten » Medizinische Fakultät » Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Klinik für » Dr. Thomas Maier » Maier
Completed research project
| Title / Titel | Personality and Levels of Ego-Structure in Traumatized Migrants | ||||||||
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| Abstract (PDF, 14 KB) | |||||||||
| Summary / Zusammenfassung | Background: To assess personality and levels of ego structure two similar instruments have been presented: The Karolinska Psychodynamic Profile (KAPP) and the Axis IV of Operationalized Psychodynamic Diagnostics (OPD). Both are based upon a semi-structured interview (Kernberg’s structural interview) and allow for an evaluation of the general functioning of personality within the framework of psychodynamic theory. The instruments have been tested and validated in various populations and in various settings and proved to be feasible and reliable. They have not been used however in traumatized patients or in migrants. It can be assumed that traumatized subjects (especially whith complex and extreme traumatizations) suffer from symptoms and behavioral problems, that represent deficits in personality organization and in ego-structure. Aims: 1. To assess personality and levels of ego-structure in traumatized migrants with the Karolinska Psychodynamic Profile (KAPP) and the Axis IV of Operationalized Psychodynamic Diagnostics (OPD). 2. To test feasibility and interrater-reliability of both instruments when interviews are videotaped and conducted with interpreters. To compare traumatized migrants with non-traumatized migrants. 3. To compare the results of personality diagnostics with the results of standard psychometric assessments. Patients/subjects: 40 patients referred to the outpatient clinic for the care of victims of war and torture will be assessed. As a comparison group 20 patients referred to the specialized consultation for migrants at the Psychiatric Department of Zurich University Hospital will be assessed in the same manner. These patients have similar ethnic and cultural backgrund, similar histories of migration and comparable degrees of integration. Methods: A clinical interview according to Kernberg’s structural interview will be conducted. All interviews are made by two interviewers, to whom the particiapants will be assigned randomly. The interview will be held by the aid of a qualified interpreter (if necessary), is videotaped and will take about 60’ (90’ in maximum). After the interview, the interviewer assesses the patient’s ego-structure using KAPP and OPD-structure checklist. Three additional raters will do the same based on the videotapes of the interview. These raters are independent from each other, there will be no feedback and no communication among the four raters concerning their ratings until all interviews are rated. Interviewers and raters will be trained and instructed using the instruments according to a defined and uniform schedule. Intentionally the three additional raters have different therapeutic backgrounds and different levels of clinical experience. The 60 interviewed patients will routinely be assessed with the standard assessment instruments used in our clinic. The measurements include: M.I.N.I., SDQ-5, HTQ I/IV, PDEQ, SCL-90 somatization, HSC-25, EUROHIS. All instruments are available in German, French, English, Arabic, Albanian, Bosnian, Farsi, Kurdish (Kurmanci and Sorani), Portuguese, Russian and are already in use at our institution. This standard assessments will be made in the same period of time (±3 weeks), when the videotaped interview is recorded. |
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| Project leadership and contacts / Projektleitung und Kontakte |
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| Funding source(s) / Unterstützt durch |
No project-specific funding |
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| Duration of Project / Projektdauer | Mar 2007 to Dec 2009 |