title: Defense mechanisms after brief cognitive-behavior group therapy for panic disorder: one-year follow-up.
abstract: Changes in defense mechanisms have been shown in long-term psychodynamic treatment. The aim of this study was to examine the changes that occurred after brief cognitive-behavior group therapy in the defense style of panic disorder patients that had failed to respond to pharmacotherapy. Forty-seven patients participated in the study and severity of panic disorder was evaluated by Clinical Global Impression. Defense mechanisms were evaluated by the Defense Style Questionnaire. Patients decreased the use of maladaptive defenses after cognitive-behavior group therapy, and the change in immature defenses was maintained at 1-year follow-up evaluation (p = 0.022). These modifications were associated with reduction of symptoms (F = 0.359; p = 0.047). These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that defense styles are malleable in short-term treatment and are, at least partially, symptom-state dependent.
authors.affiliation: Anxiety Disorders Program, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. eliz@dualnet.com.br
authors.forename: Elizeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Heldt
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Blaya
authors.forename: Leticia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kipper
authors.forename: Giovanni A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Salum
authors.forename: Michael W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Otto
authors.forename: Gisele G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Manfro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D015897:Comorbidity; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011614:Psychotherapy, Brief; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents