[The influence of self-improving based group psychotherapy in defense mechanisms for the clients with social anxiety disorder].

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the influence and therapeutic effect of self-improving based group psychotherapy which bases on pathopsychology mechanism of social anxiety disorder (SAD) in denfense mechanisms for the client with SAD.

METHODS

70 psychotherapy clients and inpatients with SAD were involved in this group psychotherapy voluntarily. Every group had six to eight clients with SAD and two psychotherapists. Psychotherapy was conducted once a week with 2 to 2. 5 hours for a period of 8 weeks. The evaluation of the therapeutic effect contains the subjective perception of the clients with SAD, Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS), and Defense Style Questionnaire (DSQ).

RESULTS

65 clients with SAD completed the therapy. The clients reported self and social functions were improved after 8 weeks therapy. The total score of LSAS after the therapy was significantly lower than that of before the therapy (Z = -5.673, P=0.000). A significant decrease in immature defense machanism and in neurotic defense machanism were observed (Z = -4.866, -2.973; P=0.000, 0.003 respectively). And a trend of increasing the use of mature defense machanism was also observed (Z = -2.780, P=0.005).

CONCLUSION

Self-improving based group psychotherapy can encourage the clients with SAD accept themselves and cure the social anxiety symptoms. And there was a increasing use of mature defense machanism. These imply the clinic application value of the studied group psychotherapy.