Quality of Life and Social Perception in Patients with Hysterical Neurosis

Abstract

Hysterical neurosis affects social perception and, thus, the quality of life. This problem has received only fragmentary scientific attention so far, in spite of the rapid increase in the number of citizens with clinical disabilities, the risk of which is quite high in patients with hysterical neurosis. This article introduces the clinical and socio psychological mechanisms that trigger the rigid patterns of neurotic hysterical personality development, as well as various therapeutic ways to overcome them. The study involved K. K. Yakhin and D. M. Mendelevich’s Questionnaire of Neurotic States, the Quality of Life Questionnaire issued by the World Health Organization, I. Ya. Gurovich and A. B. Shmukler’s Questionnaire for Assessing Social Functioning and Quality of Life of People with Mental Health Issues, N. G. Garanyan’s Emotion Recognition Test, N. S. Kurek’s Pose and Gesture Test, J. P. Guilford and M. O. Sullivan’s Social Intelligence Test adapted by E. S. Mikhailova. The empirical research revealed that the patients had an average level of quality of life because they needed constant psychiatric support and experienced problems at work and in private life. The patients also demonstrated a moderate decrease in social perception. The clinical symptoms prevented them from concentrating on perceptual elements, making them unable to understand the context and anticipate consequences. Their catathymic perception caused uncontrolled projections. However, patients with minimal deficit of social perception and intelligence, being active community members, were able to compare and critically assess their life situation. As a result, they expressed dissatisfaction with their well-being. Their deficient social perception chronicled neurosis; eventually, the patients accepted their clinical status, lowered their claims, and developed an uncritical positive assessment of life. The study revealed a strong feedback between the quality of life and social perception, which may help in psychotherapy and rehabilitation of patients with hysterical neurosis.