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da Silva Machado R, Vieira IS, Scaini C, Molina ML, Barbosa LP, da Silva GDG, Ores L, de Mattos Souza LD, Jansen K, da Silva RA. Ego-defense mechanisms and brief psychotherapies for the management of major depressive disorder in adults: A longitudinal and quasi-experimental study. J Affect Disord 2023; 330:291-299. [PMID: 36871912 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.02.141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of psychotherapies on ego defense mechanisms and the reduction of depressive symptoms in a 12-month follow-up period. METHODS This longitudinal and quasi-experimental study nested within a randomized clinical trial included a clinical sample of adults (18-60 years) diagnosed with major depressive disorder using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview. Two models of psychotherapy were used: Supportive Expressive Dynamic Psychotherapy (SEDP) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Defense Style Questionnaire 40 was used to analyze defense mechanisms and the Beck Depression Inventory was used to measure the depressive symptoms. RESULTS The total sample comprised 195 patients (113 SEDP and 82 CBT), with the mean age was 35.63 (11.44) years. After adjustments, increased mature defenses was significantly associated with reduced depressive symptoms at all follow-up times (p < 0.001) and the decrease in immature defenses was significantly associated with the reduction of depressive symptoms at all follow-up times (p < 0.001). While neurotic defenses were not associated with a reduction in depressive symptoms at any time of follow-up (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION Both models of psychotherapy were effective in increasing mature defenses and decreasing immature ones, as well as decreasing depressive symptoms at all evaluation times. With this, it is understood that a greater understanding of these interactions will allow a more adequate diagnostic and prognostic evaluation and the design of useful strategies that adapt to the patient's reality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosiene da Silva Machado
- Translational Science on Brain Disorders, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde e Comportamento, Universidade Católica de Pelotas, RS, Brazil
| | - Igor Soares Vieira
- Translational Science on Brain Disorders, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde e Comportamento, Universidade Católica de Pelotas, RS, Brazil; Centro Universitário Estácio de Sergipe, SE, Brazil
| | - Carolina Scaini
- Translational Science on Brain Disorders, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde e Comportamento, Universidade Católica de Pelotas, RS, Brazil
| | - Mariane Lopez Molina
- Translational Science on Brain Disorders, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde e Comportamento, Universidade Católica de Pelotas, RS, Brazil; Faculdade Anhanguera do Rio Grande, RS, Brazil
| | - Luana Porto Barbosa
- Translational Science on Brain Disorders, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde e Comportamento, Universidade Católica de Pelotas, RS, Brazil
| | - Giovana Del Grande da Silva
- Translational Science on Brain Disorders, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde e Comportamento, Universidade Católica de Pelotas, RS, Brazil
| | | | - Luciano Dias de Mattos Souza
- Translational Science on Brain Disorders, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde e Comportamento, Universidade Católica de Pelotas, RS, Brazil
| | - Karen Jansen
- Translational Science on Brain Disorders, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde e Comportamento, Universidade Católica de Pelotas, RS, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Azevedo da Silva
- Translational Science on Brain Disorders, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde e Comportamento, Universidade Católica de Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
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Kandaraki A, Vousoura E, Argyropoulos S, Ginieri-Coccossis M, Papadimitriou GN, Papageorgiou C, Zervas IM. Psychological Differences Between Greek Artists With and Without History of Major Psychopathology. JOURNAL OF CREATIVITY IN MENTAL HEALTH 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/15401383.2020.1757005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Kandaraki
- Athens University Medical School, Eginition Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Eleni Vousoura
- Athens University Medical School, Eginition Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | | | | | | | | | - Iannis M. Zervas
- Athens University Medical School, Eginition Hospital, Athens, Greece
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Abstract
Our study was intended to test whether there are any differences in the way defense mechanisms are used by patients suffering from pure anxiety and those with pure depressive disorders. The sample size was as follows: depressive disorders without psychotic symptoms 30, anxiety disorders 30, and the healthy control group 30. The assessment of defense mechanisms was made using the DSQ-40 questionnaire. Our findings show that "pure" anxiety disorders differ from "pure" depressive disorders only in the use of immature defense mechanisms. The group with depressive disorders was significantly more prone to use immature defense mechanisms than the group with anxiety disorders (p = 0.005), primarily projection (p = 0.001) and devaluation (p = 0.003). These defense mechanisms may therefore be used both to differentiate between anxiety and depressive disorders and also to determine which symptoms (anxiety or depressive disorders) are dominant at any given stage of treatment.
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Ferrero A, Simonelli B, Fassina S, Cairo E, Abbate-Daga G, Marzola E, Fassino S. Psychopathological Functioning Levels (PFLs) and their possible relevance in psychiatric treatments: a qualitative research project. BMC Psychiatry 2016; 16:253. [PMID: 27439471 PMCID: PMC4955138 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-016-0940-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2016] [Accepted: 06/20/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Symptoms description is often not enough to provide clinicians with guidelines for treatments and patients' clinical history does not represent an exhaustive source of data. Psychopathological dysfunctions are known to relate to the core disturbances that underlie different forms of psychopathology so the identification of such dysfunctions could be helpful for treatments. Some tools are available although highly complex and lengthy. This study aimed to provide clinicians with an easy-to-administer instrument able to capture different levels of impairment in psychopathological functioning, namely the Psychopathological Functioning Levels - Rating Scale (PFL-RS). METHODS The Psychopathological Functioning Level - Research and Training Committee (PFL-RTC) has been established in Turin since 2002 including psychiatrists and clinical psychologists with extensive clinical and research experience. Our research was grounded on the Qualitative Research Criteria (QRC) 1-7 and conducted with subsequent steps in order to identify those core psychopathological dysfunctions to be rated by this tool. RESULTS From 2002 until 2014, 316 outpatients were administered the clinical interview on at least two different occasions. Diagnoses were mixed and included: Schizophrenic and Psychotic Disorders, Depressive Disorders, Anxiety Disorders, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder, Somatic Symptoms Disorders, Eating Disorders and Personality Disorders. Focus groups were conducted to identify those psychopathological dysfunctions which needed to be rated, according to two Phenomenological Selection Criteria (PhSC) and four Etiopathogenetic Selection Criteria (EtSC). As a result, five dysfunctional areas emerged: Identity (ID); Comprehension (CO); Negative Emotions (NE); Action-Regulation (AR); Social Skills (SS). After checking such dimensions for consistency with the existing instruments, 7 levels of severity were identified for each area. Finally, a provisional Italian schedule of Psychopathological Functioning Levels - Rating Scale (PFL-RS) was obtained and checked for semantic comprehension and then administered gathering preliminary data. CONCLUSIONS Psychopathological dysfunctions underlying mental disorders have been recognized in the present study with the PFL-RS. This instrument seems promising to inform in a specific way treatments strategies and goals, specifically concerning psychotherapy. Notwithstanding, further research is needed in order to confirm validity, sensitivity and reliability of this instrument.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Ferrero
- Psychotherapy Unit, Mental Health Department, Health District TO-4, Settimo Torinese Turin, Italy ,SAIGA Institute for Research, Turin, Italy
| | - Barbara Simonelli
- Psychotherapy Unit, Mental Health Department, Health District TO-4, Settimo Torinese Turin, Italy ,SAIGA Institute for Research, Turin, Italy
| | - Simona Fassina
- Psychotherapy Unit, Mental Health Department, Health District TO-4, Settimo Torinese Turin, Italy ,SAIGA Institute for Research, Turin, Italy
| | | | - Giovanni Abbate-Daga
- Eating Disorders Center for Treatment and Research, Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Via Cherasco 15, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Enrica Marzola
- Eating Disorders Center for Treatment and Research, Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Via Cherasco 15, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Secondo Fassino
- Eating Disorders Center for Treatment and Research, Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Via Cherasco 15, 10126, Turin, Italy.
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Sinnamon GCB, Caltabiano M, Baune BT. Differentiating disordered affect in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes. J Affect Disord 2013; 147:51-8. [PMID: 23141632 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2012.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2012] [Revised: 10/08/2012] [Accepted: 10/08/2012] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is evidence for increased risk of affective disorders (AD) in adults with type 1 diabetes however, the prevalence and characteristics of AD in young people with the condition is unclear. Comorbid AD in type 1 diabetes is associated with deleterious self-management, sub-optimal clinical indicators, reduced quality of life, poorer physical health, increased complications, increased high risk behaviours in adolescence and young adulthood, and earlier mortality. The present study investigated the prevalence and character of AD in young people with type 1 diabetes. METHODS The self-report PH-PANAS-C was employed in a cross-sectional, case-control design to identify and differentiate full-syndrome (FS) and subthreshold (St) levels of AD in 53 participants with type 1 diabetes (case) and 54 age-balanced controls (N=107; 7-18 yrs). RESULTS Case participants reported greater AD than controls. When differentiated, only anxiety was significantly more prevalent. Case participants reported less positive affect, and greater negative affect and autonomic arousal. Further, 1:3 case participants presented with St symptoms of AD. LIMITATIONS Self-report measures are known to produce moderated responses therefore symptoms may be more severe than reported. There has been some suggestion that responses to somatic items in the PH-PANAS-C may relate to diabetes-specific states rather than affect-related symptoms however, recent evidence has refuted this argument. CONCLUSIONS AD, particularly anxiety, represents a significant clinical concern in young people with type 1 diabetes both as a disorder in its own right and as a major impediment to primary care and management of the diabetes. The significant dominance of anxiety-related symptoms and prevalence of subthreshold presentation warrant further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grant C B Sinnamon
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychiatric Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Angus Smith Drive, Townsville, QLD, Australia.
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Presniak MD, Olson TR, Macgregor MW. The role of defense mechanisms in borderline and antisocial personalities. J Pers Assess 2010; 92:137-45. [PMID: 20155563 DOI: 10.1080/00223890903510373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
We examined whether borderline personality disorder (BPD) and antisocial personality disorder (APD) could be differentiated based on defense mechanisms as measured by observer (Defense-Q; MacGregor, Olson, Presniak, & Davidson, 2008) and self-report (Defense Style Questionnaire; Andrews, Singh, & Bond, 1993) measures. We conducted 2 studies whereby nonclinical participants were divided into borderline and antisocial groups based on scores from the Personality Assessment Inventory (Morey, 1991). Multivariate analysis of variance results revealed significant overall group differences in defense use. Univariate analyses further showed group differences on several individual defenses (e.g., acting out, denial, and turning against self). Together, the findings suggest that in BPD, the defenses may emphasize interpersonal dependency and a tendency to direct aggression toward the self; whereas in APD, the defenses may emphasize egocentricity, interpersonal exploitation, and a tendency to direct aggression toward others. Overall, this study demonstrates important differences in defense use between borderline and antisocial personality groups across both observer and self-report measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle D Presniak
- Institute of Community and Family Psychiatry at SMBD Jewish General Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3T 1E4, Canada.
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