Defense mechanisms in patients with major depression, anxiety disorders, and normal individuals: A comparative study

Document Type : پژوهشی

Author

Mohammad Ali Besharat

10.22067/ijap.v3i1.12426

Abstract

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to compare defense mechanisms of patients with major depression, anxiety disorders, and normal individuals. A total of 224 individuals (87 depressed, 64 anxious, 73 normal) participated in this study, voluntarily. Following a psychiatric diagnosis of the psychological disorders, all participants were asked to complete the Defense Style Questionnaire (DSQ). The results revealed predominant defense of the depressed, anxious, and normal individuals as immature, neurotic, and mature, respectively. Comparison of defense mechanisms of patients and normal individuals provides evidence of the possible impact of pathological defense mechanisms on the development and/or continuity of depression and anxiety disorders.

Keywords

defense mechanism

depression

anxiety

psychopathology

---

 Authors retain the copyright and full publishing rights. This is an open access article distributed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0)