title: [The clinical relevance of defense mechanisms in inpatients and outpatients].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  How clearcut is the clinical significance of mature and immature defense mechanisms in psychological symptoms?
  
  
  METHODS
  Defense mechanisms, symptoms and well-being were assessed in 293 inpatients, 316 outpatients and 157 students.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The factors "mature defense" and "immature defense" predict well-being/symptoms to a substantial degree.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The assessment of defense mechanism via self-report is clinically useful.
authors.affiliation: Universitätsklinik für Medizinische Psychologie der Medizinischen Universität Innsbruck, Univ.-Klinik für Medizinische Psychologie, Schöpfstraße 23a, A-6020 Innsbruck, Österreich. horst.mitmansgruber@i-med.ac.at
authors.forename: Horst
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mitmansgruber
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Beck
authors.forename: Hubert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mulser
authors.forename: Reiner W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Dahlbender
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schüssler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D015897:Comorbidity; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D055815:Young Adult