Determinants of denial: a study of alcoholics.

1. Although denial may at times operate as a coping mechanism used by alcoholics in an attempt to adapt to a perceived threatening environment, it can be a detriment to recovery. 2. The assessment of denial can be laborious because of the various aspects of denial and the obscure manner in which it can manifest itself. 3. To facilitate the assessment process, the authors have undertaken a study to operationalize denial by its observable behaviors.