Investigation of Relationship between Defense Mechanisms and Formal Elements of Art Therapy in Patients with Mental Disorders

Aim and The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between defense mechanisms with the formal elements of art therapy.
Methods and Materials: Descriptive-correlational research method was used in this study. The studied population consisted of all patients referred to Modares Martyr Psychiatric Hospital of Isfahan and Mental Ills Center of Parasto, Iran. Among attendees, 60 individuals including 30 patients with bipolar disorder (14 men and 16 women) and 30 patients with schizophrenia disorder (13 men and 17 women) were selected with available sampling method. Defense styles questionnaire (DSQ), the person picking an apple from a tree (PPAT) painting test and formal elements art therapy scale (FEATS) were used in this study. Pearson correlation, Student's independent t-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to analyze the data using SPSS software.
Findings: There was a significant positive correlation between defense mechanisms of humor, sublimation, suppression, undoing, reaction formation and rationalization with formal elements of integration, developmental level, line quality, logic, rotation, details of object and environment, and color fit. Also, there was a significant negative correlation between defense mechanisms of projection, acting out, isolation, denial, displacement, and somatization with formal elements of integration, realism, problem-solving, developmental level, details of object and environment, line quality, prominence of color and logic. On the other hand, tow patients groups of bipolar and schizophrenia disorders were different in all of the FEATS with the exception of the rotation element. In addition, sex difference was observed in three elements of integration, developmental level, and line quality.
FEATS is able to identify the patient's defense mechanisms. Also, it seems that this measure is able to screen and diagnose the mental disorders.