Impact of defense style on brief psychotherapy of postpartum depression.
In this study, we evaluated the impact of defense style (DS) on outcome and its relation to the therapeutic alliance. Women with postpartum depression were allocated to a brief psychotherapeutic intervention. To evaluate DS and the therapeutic alliance, the Defense Style Questionnaire and the Working Alliance Inventory were employed. The main outcome was the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale score at end point; anxiety and retention in treatment were also evaluated. Fifty-nine patients were included; 46 completed the therapy and 65.4% responded (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale score <10). Intense use of immature defenses was related to persistence of depression and anxiety symptoms at end point, even when controlled for potential confounders. Results tended to confirm a hierarchy of DSs independently of the alliance. Clinicians should be aware of possible differential responses to brief psychotherapies related to DS.
Master's Programme in Health and Behaviour, Catholic University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil. maga@ufpel.tche.br
Pedro Vieira da Silva
PV
Magalhães
Ricardo Tavares
RT
Pinheiro
Augusto Duarte
AD
Faria
Camila Moreira
CM
Osório
Ricardo Azevedo
RA
da Silva
Luis
L
Botella
D000328:Adult; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010352:Patient Dropouts / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D013811:Psychotherapeutic Processes; D011614:Psychotherapy, Brief / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome