Mitmansgruber Horst, Beck Thomas, Mulser Hubert, Dahlbender Reiner W, Schüssler Gerhard
Universitätsklinik für Medizinische Psychologie der Medizinischen Universität Innsbruck, Univ.-Klinik für Medizinische Psychologie, Schöpfstraße 23a, A-6020 Innsbruck, Österreich.
Z Psychosom Med Psychother. 2011;57(2):202-9. doi: 10.13109/zptm.2011.57.2.202.
How clearcut is the clinical significance of mature and immature defense mechanisms in psychological symptoms?
Defense mechanisms, symptoms and well-being were assessed in 293 inpatients, 316 outpatients and 157 students.
The factors "mature defense" and "immature defense" predict well-being/symptoms to a substantial degree.
The assessment of defense mechanism via self-report is clinically useful.