Changes in the psychological defense mechanism and clinical features of patients with OCD - A four-year follow-up study

Objective: The present study aims to (1) follow up with 4-year changes in the efficacy outcome, defense style questionnaire (DSQ) score, and clinical features of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and (2) analyze the relationship between different levels of efficacy and changes in the patients' psychological defense mechanisms. Methods: The following data collection and 4-year follow-up were completed for 153 patients with OCD: (1) the treatment process, efficacy outcome, course of disease, and clinical features of OCD were collected using a self-made general information questionnaire and (2) the control method was used to analyze the changes in clinical symptoms (Yale-Brown obsessive compulsive scale [YBOCS], Hamilton anxiety score [HAMA], and Hamilton depression scale [HAMD]) in patients with OCD. Moreover, the changes in the psychological defense mechanism (measured by DSQ) and the relation between the prognosis and DSQ score were investigated. Results: (1) The HAMA score (8.7 +/- 4.8 points), HAMD score (12.0 +/- 6.6 points) and YBOCS score (16.4 +/- 8.4 points) were significantly lower during the follow-up than at the time of enrollment (p < 0.01). In the two DSQ evaluations, there were no significant differences in the factors, with the exception of a significant decrease in the use of reaction formation (t = 2.533, p = 0.015). The changes of mature defense factors in the significant efficacy group significantly increased (p < 0.01). Which was mainly manifested in the significant increase in the score of sublimation item, and the difference was extremely significant (t = -3.093, p = 0.006). Conclusion: An abnormal psychological defense mechanism plays an important role in OCD, and the use of a mature defense mechanism is significantly related to the treatment efficacy.

Automated summary

This study followed up with patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) for 4 years to examine changes in efficacy outcomes, defense style questionnaire (DSQ) scores, and clinical features. The study also analyzed the relationship between efficacy levels and changes in patients' psychological defense mechanisms. The findings suggest that abnormal psychological defense mechanisms play a significant role in OCD, and the use of mature defense mechanisms is associated with treatment efficacy.