A comparative study of defense styles and mechanisms of gender dysphoric patients with normal people

Meanwhile most of people recognize their gender identity when they are child, but some of them show the desirers and behaviors of the opposite sex. The current study was aimed to have a comparative investigation into the defense styles and mechanisms of gender dysphoric patients with normal people. Among the gender dysphoric patients who were referred to Navidbakhsh clinic of Isfahan during the years 2014 and 2015, 33 patients were selected randomly. The clinical patients and 33 normal people, who were selected randomly as well, were asked to complete the defensive styles questionnaire (Andrews, Singh & Bond, 1993). The data was analyzed using multivariate analysis. The results showed significant difference between people whit gender dysphoria and normal people about defensive mechanism. Gender dysphoric patients, in compare with the normal people, were using more immature and neurotic defensive style, but less mature defensive style. Regarding with the above mentioned results about gender dysphoric patients, they seem to need Psychodynamic and Psychoanalytic psychotherapy rather than other psychological methods of treatment.