The personality of alcoholics: socio-cultural, psychopathological and psychodynamical variables

86 cronic alcoholics, hospitalized in three psychiatric clinics, were studied through a questionnaire and the Szondi Projective Test. Dividing the sample into two groups, "social" and psychotic alcoholics brought several significant differences to light. The mean age of the psychotic patients was lower than of the "social" alcoholics, suggesting that the pathology of the former had begun sooner. Furthermore, the projective test revealed that the pathology of the psychotic patients was qualitatively different in that they use negation and selfblocking defense mechanisms at a self-destructive level. This hinders individualization and fixates the patient, without internal consistency, at a level of pre-genital regression which is manifested in their social marginality.