Perceptual Defense Mechanisms in Crohn's Disease and Panic Disorder

Abstract

The defense organization of Crohn's disease and Panic Disorder was studied with a well-validated tachistoscopic paradigm, the Defense Mechanism Test. Three sex- and age-matched groups of 34 subjects (Crohn, Panic, and Nonclinical) were compared on the main codings of defense. Crohn patients were characterized by stereotypy and lack of recognition of the threat. The Panic group presented clearly higher frequencies of protocols with repression, isolation, and disappearance of the threat. Especially was the strongest variant of isolation, barrier-isolation, typical of the defensive substructure of panic patients.