The Study of defense styles & mechanisms in patients with Obsessive -compulsive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder& social phobia disorder

This study was aimed to determine and compare the defense mechanisms and styles in obsessive-compulsive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and social phobia in 4 groups (including OCD, GAD, Social phobia and healthy subjects). Each group comprising 30 subjects were assessed by Defensive style Questionnaire (DSQ-40). The defense mechanisms and styles of patients were compared to normal group and evaluated. Statistical analysis showed that patient's defense mechanisms and styles differed significantly from normal group. Clinical groups used more Immature and Neurotic defenses. In comparison to healthy group, OCD subjects exhibited more Neurotic and Immature style. In details, they used the acting out, reaction formation and undoing defenses more than normal group; likewise GAD group used projection, idealization, somatization and less humor and suppression. SP used more projection, idealization, somatization and passive aggression and less suppression. The results of present study clarified the importance of research on defense mechanisms in both normal and clinical span in order to diagnose and treat the anxiety disorders; also suggest that these findings are comparable with other studies; however studying on defense mechanisms needs further investigations in Iran.