PMID- 9569892
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 19980507
LR  - 20191210
IS  - 0022-3018 (Print)
IS  - 0022-3018 (Linking)
VI  - 186
IP  - 4
DP  - 1998 Apr
TI  - Defensive functioning predicts improvement in major depressive episodes.
PG  - 238-43
AB  - We investigated the predictive effect of psychological defenses on the course of 
      major depression in a subsample of psychiatric patients from a larger study. We 
      tested the hypothesis that a group of eight defenses, associated with depression 
      in previous research, would predict, outcome of major depression. After an intake 
      interview, 37 patients were rated on all DSM-III-R Axes, the SCL-90-R, and 28 
      defenses, using the Defense Mechanism Rating Scales. At 6-month follow-up 
      interview, SCL-90-R and Global Assessment and Functioning (GAF) were redetermined 
      on 34 (92%), 16 of whom had major depression at intake. Overall Defensive 
      Functioning (ODF) significantly predicted GAF at 6-month follow-up over and above 
      initial level of global functioning and presence of a personality disorder. The 
      group of eight defenses were identified more often (p = .068) in depressed 
      patients who improved less than predicted by their initial functional status. The 
      high adaptive level defense, self-observation, was identified more often in those 
      who improved more than predicted by their initial status. Our findings support 
      the theory of a hierarchy of defenses, and the mediating effects of specific low 
      and high adaptive level defenses on the course of a major depressive episode. 
      Further research should examine passive aggression, acting out, help-rejecting 
      complaining, splitting of self-images, splitting of others' images, projective 
      identification, projection, and devaluation in relationship to the onset, course, 
      and treatment response of depressive disorders.
FAU - Hoglend, P
AU  - Hoglend P
AD  - Department of Psychiatry, University of Oslo, Norway.
FAU - Perry, J C
AU  - Perry JC
LA  - eng
PT  - Journal Article
PT  - Multicenter Study
PT  - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
PL  - United States
TA  - J Nerv Ment Dis
JT  - The Journal of nervous and mental disease
JID - 0375402
SB  - IM
MH  - Adult
MH  - Comorbidity
MH  - *Defense Mechanisms
MH  - Depressive Disorder/*diagnosis/epidemiology/psychology
MH  - Female
MH  - Follow-Up Studies
MH  - Humans
MH  - Male
MH  - Middle Aged
MH  - Outcome Assessment, Health Care
MH  - Personality Disorders/diagnosis/epidemiology
MH  - Probability
MH  - Prognosis
MH  - Psychiatric Status Rating Scales/statistics & numerical data
MH  - Regression Analysis
MH  - Reproducibility of Results
MH  - Severity of Illness Index
EDAT- 1998/05/07 00:00
MHDA- 1998/05/07 00:01
CRDT- 1998/05/07 00:00
PHST- 1998/05/07 00:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 1998/05/07 00:01 [medline]
PHST- 1998/05/07 00:00 [entrez]
AID - 10.1097/00005053-199804000-00006 [doi]
PST - ppublish
SO  - J Nerv Ment Dis. 1998 Apr;186(4):238-43. doi: 10.1097/00005053-199804000-00006.