Assessment Of Defense Mechanisms Research Articles

Psychometric Properties of the Defense Mechanisms Rating Scales-Self-Report-30 (DMRS-SR-30): Internal Consistency, Validity and Factor Structure

Assessment of defense mechanisms has a longstanding history within the clinical psychology and psychopathology literature. Despite their centrality to clinical practice, there are few self-report measures that assess defenses and, those that do exist, have limitations in addressing individual defenses and levels of defensive functioning. To address this need, we investigated the psychometric properties of the Defense Mechanisms Rating Scale - Self-Report − 30 item (DMRS-SR-30) with a global, community sample of 1,539 participants who responded to an online survey about distress and coping. Exploratory factor analysis found a three-factor model for the DMRS-SR-30 – mature, mental inhibition and avoidance, and immature-depressive. Internal consistency was high for the Overall Defensive Functioning (ODF) and the three extracted factors with coefficient alphas ranging from .75 to .90. Examination of concurrent validity with a commonly used measure of defensive functioning found significant relationships in the predicted directions. The group of immature defenses had the strongest concurrent validity (r = .50). Finally, correlations with external criteria – including psychological distress and adverse childhood experiences – supported the convergent and discriminant validity of the DMRS-SR-30. The three factor structure of the DMRS-SR-30 has good psychometric properties. Limitations and directions for future research, as well as clinical implications, are described.

Assessment of defense mechanisms using card 3BM of the Thematic Apperception Test among community dwelling elderly

Assessment of defense mechanisms using card 3BM of the Thematic Apperception Test among community dwelling elderly

Defense Mechanisms in “Pure” Anxiety and “Pure” Depressive Disorders

Our study was intended to test whether there are any differences in the way defense mechanisms are used by patients suffering from pure anxiety and those with pure depressive disorders. The sample size was as follows: depressive disorders without psychotic symptoms 30, anxiety disorders 30, and the healthy control group 30. The assessment of defense mechanisms was made using the DSQ-40 questionnaire. Our findings show that "pure" anxiety disorders differ from "pure" depressive disorders only in the use of immature defense mechanisms. The group with depressive disorders was significantly more prone to use immature defense mechanisms than the group with anxiety disorders (p = 0.005), primarily projection (p = 0.001) and devaluation (p = 0.003). These defense mechanisms may therefore be used both to differentiate between anxiety and depressive disorders and also to determine which symptoms (anxiety or depressive disorders) are dominant at any given stage of treatment.

Defense mechanisms in a sample of non-psychiatric obese subjects

The aim was to assess the prevalent defense mechanisms in a sample of obese subjects; since specific defensive styles may interfere with the management of stressors and emotions, they may also influence the onset, the severity, and the maintenance of obesity. 70 obese subjects and 70 healthy normal-weight volunteers were assessed using the Defense Mechanisms Inventory — DMI. Significant differences between groups have emerged at Turning Against Object ( t = − 5.30; p < 0.0001), Projection ( t = − 5.55; p < 0.0001), Turning Against Self ( t = − 4.87; p < 0.0001) and Reversal ( t = − 3.61; p < 0.0001) variables. Within the obese group, significant differences have been found at Turning Against Object ( U = 264; p = .001) and Projection ( U = 359; p = .042) scales, both higher in males. No significant differences on DMI scores in relation to the severity of obesity have been observed. An inadequate defensive structure might represent a vulnerability to emotional states and stressful life events. The assessment of defense mechanisms may provide a valid tool for long-term treatments of obesity.

Brazilian–Portuguese version of defensive style questionnaire-40 for the assessment of defense mechanisms: construct validity study

The aim of this study is to analyze the reliability and validity of the Brazilian–Portuguese version of the Defensive Style Questionnaire (DSQ). Participants were evaluated by clinical interview and the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview. Reliability was assessed by factor analysis and Cronbach's alpha. The 3-factor model's replication was tested using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Controls were reevaluated after 4 months to assess test–retest reliability. Subsamples were also evaluated using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory and Defensive Functioning Scale (DFS). Factor analysis of the various defense mechanisms produced a distribution of mechanisms among the factors that was largely similar to previous analyses based on the original instrument. The 3-factor model was supported by CFA. The test–retest evaluation showed sufficient intraclass correlation for all factors. Patients used more immature and neurotic defenses than controls. There was a correlation between DFS and immature defenses. Individuals with pathological personality traits scored higher on the immature and neurotic factors than those without. The Brazilian–Portuguese version of the DSQ-40 has psychometric features that allow the use of this instrument in our culture.

Defense mechanisms in hemodialysis-dependent patients

Defense mechanisms are automatic psychological processes that protect the individual against anxiety and from the awareness of internal or external dangers or stressors. The influence of defense mechanisms in patients on chronic hemodialysis treatment was studied. There were 53 uremic subjects (37 males and 16 females), aged between 22 and 88 years (mean age 60.11, SD 15.03), on chronic dialysis and 50 healthy subjects as controls have been enrolled in the study. According to the duration of dialysis, uremic patients were divided in two subgroups: 21 patients with less than 5 years and 19 patients with more than 10 years of dialytic treatment. Assessment was conducted using the Defense Mechanisms Inventory DMI. The inventory identifies five defensive styles: turning against the object (TAO), projection (PRO), principalization (PRN), turning against the self (TAS) and reversal (REV). Results showed DMI scores within the normal range both for uremics and controls with significant differences in TAO (t = -3.053, p = 0.003) and REV (t = 5.067, p < 0.0001) between groups. No significant differences in the use of defensive styles related to the duration of dialytic treatment were observed. Besides other psychological features, the assessment of defense mechanisms in patients with chronic and invalidating diseases may contribute to ameliorate the knowledge of the adjustment processes and of the psychological well-being of the patients.

Impact of the Turning-Against-Self Defense Mechanism on the Process and Outcome of Inpatient Psychotherapy

The authors examined the relation between specific defense mechanisms and treatment process and outcome in psychodynamic psychotherapy. Three measures, Questionnaire for Conflict Coping Strategies, Questionnaire on the Experience of the Inpatient Therapeutic Process, and Symptom Checklist-90-R, were given to 65 inpatients of a psychosomatic clinic, predominantly with depressive or eating disorders. Turning against self was the most frequently used defense mechanism in the patient group. A high level of turning against self that could be reduced significantly during treatment was associated with good adaptation to treatment setting and positive treatment outcome defined by symptom distress reduction. Assessment of defense mechanisms and their interaction with therapeutic factors in the therapy setting can be useful to better understand the treatment process and the subsequent development of specific interventions to enhance treatment outcome.

Clinical assessment of defense mechanisms using the defense mechanism rating scale (DMRS) by J.C. Perry

A clinically relevant number of patients report pain 1 year after vaginal delivery or Caesarean delivery. Study objectives were to identify the incidence of peripartum pain; determine whether pre-existing pain, pregnancy pain, or pain 2 weeks postpartum predicts pain at 3 months; and to identify whether delivery mode, epidural analgesia use, or delivery complications predict non–genito-pelvic pain postpartum.Primiparous women at 30 to 36 weeks GA with an uncomplicated singleton pregnancy were recruited from a large perinatal clinic. Participants completed questionnaires on sociodemographics and non–genito-pelvic pain. Questionnaires were completed in the perinatal clinic and then electronically 2 weeks and 3 months postpartum.Of the 133 women included, 50 patients (38%) had a chronic pain condition or pain prior to pregnancy, whereas 73 patients (55%) reported pain in pregnancy. Pain was present 2 weeks postpartum in 57 patients (43%) and 3 months postpartum in 33 patients (25%). Patients with pre-existing pain were more likely to experience pain 2 weeks postpartum (P = 0.006), and patients with pain 2 weeks postpartum were more likely to have pain 3 months postpartum (P = 0.005). Women who had a Caesarean delivery (P < 0.001) were more likely to have non–genito-pelvic pain at 2 weeks but not 3 months postpartum.Women with pain 2 weeks postpartum were significantly more likely to have pain at 3 months. Further investigation is required to determine whether pre-existing pain, pain in pregnancy, or pain at 2 weeks postpartum can adequately predict the likelihood of chronic pain.Un nombre non négligeable de patientes disent ressentir des douleurs un an après un accouchement par voie vaginale ou par césarienne. Notre étude visait à mesurer la prévalence des douleurs périnatales, à vérifier si les douleurs avant la grossesse, pendant la grossesse ou deux semaines après l'accouchement pouvaient prédire la présence de douleurs trois mois après l'accouchement, et à déterminer si le mode d'accouchement, l'utilisation de la péridurale et la présence de complications à l'accouchement pouvaient prédire les douleurs postpartum non génitopelviennes.Nous avons recruté des femmes primipares enceintes de 30 à 36 semaines ayant une grossesse monofœtale sans complication dans une grande clinique périnatale. Les participantes ont rempli des questionnaires sur leur profil sociodémographique et sur la douleur non génitopelvienne. Elles les ont remplis une première fois à la clinique, puis deux semaines et trois mois après l'accouchement par voie électronique.Sur les 133 participantes, 50 (38 %) avaient des douleurs ou des douleurs chroniques avant la grossesse, et 73 (55 %) ont indiqué avoir ressenti des douleurs durant la grossesse. Deux semaines après l'accouchement, 57 patientes (43 %) signalaient des douleurs; trois mois postpartum, ce nombre était de 33 (25 %). Les patientes qui ressentaient des douleurs avant la grossesse étaient plus susceptibles d'en ressentir deux semaines après l'accouchement (P = 0,006). De même, celles qui éprouvaient des douleurs deux semaines après l'accouchement étaient plus susceptibles d'en rapporter trois mois après l'accouchement (P = 0,005). Les femmes ayant subi une césarienne (P < 0,001) étaient plus susceptibles d'avoir des douleurs non génitopelviennes deux semaines après l'accouchement, mais pas après trois mois.Les femmes ayant des douleurs deux semaines après l'accouchement étaient significativement plus susceptibles d'en signaler aussi trois mois après l'accouchement. Cependant, des recherches supplémentaires sont nécessaires pour déterminer si la douleur avant la grossesse, pendant la grossesse et deux semaines après l'accouchement sont des facteurs prédictifs du risque de douleur chronique.

Operational diagnostic approaches in the assessment of defense mechanisms.

A model for the operationalization of empirical research of defense mechanisms is presented. Measures for operationalized defense diagnoses are discussed against the background of a cognitive model of different coding of information channels (linguistic and perceptual coding). Studies for the operationalized diagnoses in the clinical assessment of defense mechanism are discussed for the identification of the defense mechanism, reliability of rating procedures, and the prognostic aspects in psychotherapy and psychosomatics. The regulation of defense on different levels of a hierarchy of complex systems of variables is demonstrated with paradigmatic results.