The he effectiveness of intensive and short-term dynamic psychotherapy on reducing the symptoms and defense mechanisms of obsessive-compulsive and avoidant personality disorders

Abstract

Abstract \nIntroduction and objective: Intensive and short-term dynamic psychotherapy (ISTDP) is one of the effective treatments for personality disorders. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of ISTDP on reducing the symptoms and defensive mechanisms of obsessive-compulsive and avoidant personality disorders. \nMethod: The present study is an experimental research with a single experimental design (A-B-A). The statistical population of the present study consisted of all individuals with personality disorders, Tehran who referred to two psychology clinics in Tehran in 2019. Among the above statistical population, 6 people were diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive and avoidant personality disorders based on the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI-III) and Structured Clinical Interview for DSM Disorders (SCID-II) based on the on DSM-5 criteria were selected by purposive sampling method. The instruments used in this study were: Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI-III), Defensive Mechanisms Questionnaire-40 and Structured Clinical Interview for DSM Disorders (SCID). In addition, ISTDP protocol was applied to the research sample according to the Davanlo (1995, 2000) approach for 15 sessions once a week and each session for one hour. Subjects were assessed after baseline assessment, once every 3 sessions, and after the treatment sessions, 3 follow-up assessments were performed at one-month intervals. Data were analyzed using eye charts and Friedman test and version 24 of SPSS software. \nResults: The results showed that ISTDP reduces the symptoms of obsessive-compulsive and avoidant personality disorders (p <0.05). Also, this treatment was significant in reducing, immature and neurotic defensive mechanisms and Increasing mature defensive mechanisms in individuals with obsessive-compulsive and avoidant personality disorders (p <0.05). \nConclusion: According to the findings, it can be concluded that ISTDP has a significant effect on reducing the symptoms and defensive mechanisms of obsessive-compulsive and avoidant personality disorders.