E-ISSN : 2733-4538
This study is to assess main defense mechanisms of neurotic patients with chief complaint of somatic symptom using 'Ewha defense mechanism tests'. Subjects were 50 of somatic complaint patients among neurosis(mean age=37.4 years), control were 48 of social phobic patients(mean age=33.9years) and 50 of normal control(mean age=36.1years). Results were as follows: Firstly, the highest score among the psychiatric population with somatic complaints is 'somatization', 'dissociation', 'evasion', 'projection', 'acting out' in decending order. 'humor' was the lowest defense mechanism score. Defense mechanisms such as 'somatization', 'dissociation' were predominent among somatic complaint patients comparing to normal control and social patients. Secondly there were no statistically significant differences in defense mechanism score in both sex among the somatic patient group. Male patient group used more 'identification' and 'bluff' defense mechanisms. Where as 'suppression' was more common in female patients. Lastly, there were no statistically significant differences in the subdefense mechanism score in educational level among the patients with somatic complaints.