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Defence style and behaviour therapy outcome in a specific phobia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

Peter Muris  and
Harald Merckelbach
Peter Muris*
Affiliation:
Department of Experimental Abnormal Psychology, Limburg University, The Netherlands
Harald Merckelbach
Affiliation:
Department of Experimental Abnormal Psychology, Limburg University, The Netherlands
*
1Address for correspondence: Dr Peter Muris, Department of Experimental Abnormal Psychology, University of Limburg, PO Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands.
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Synopsis

The Defense Style Questionnaire (DSQ) was administered to patients with a specific phobia (animal type; N = 54) and to control subjects (N = 29). Results indicated that specific phobia patients and non-phobic control subjects exhibit a similar pattern of defences. Also, the study investigated whether specific DSQ defence styles affect behaviour therapy outcome. It was found that an immature defence style, and especially the defence mechanism projection, was related to less favourable treatment results.

Type
Brief Communication
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 26 , Issue 3 , May 1996 , pp. 635 - 639
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1996

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