Defense Mechanism and Its Related Factors in Patients with Obsessive-compulsive Disorder

Objective: To explore psychological defense mechanism and its related factors in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Methods: Both OCD patients ( n =60) and normal controls ( n =60) were measured with Defense Style Questionnaire (DSQ),Egna Minnen av Barndoms Uppfostran (EMBU) and Eysenck Personality Questionnaire(EPQ). Results: The factors scores of neurotic defense and immature mechanism (4.64±0.72 and 4.69±1.07 respectively) were significantly higher and the factors scores of mature mechanism (5.32±1.44) were significantly lower in OCD patients than in normal controls(4.34±0.58,3.86±0.98 and 5.80±0.81 respectively).The factor I (affect warmth) scores of the father and mother scales of EMBU in OCD patients were significantly lower than that of control groups. The scores on factors such as punishment, refusal and overprotection of father and mother scale of EMBU in OCD patients were found significantly higher when compared to controls. The scores of the neuroticism subscale of EPQ were found significantly higher and the scores of the extraversion subscale and overprotection of the father and mother scales of EMBU were related positively with the factors scores of neurotic defense and immature mechanism in OCD patients. The score of factor I(affect warmth) of the father and mother scales and the factor scores such as overprotection of father scale of EMBU were related positively with the scores of the extraversion subscale and the scores of neuroticism subscale of EPQ respectively in OCD patients. Conclusion: The OCD patients make excessive use of the neurotic defense and immature mechanism, which are related to undesirable parental rearing patterns and maladaptive personality of the patients.