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The Defense Mechanism Inventory and alcoholics
The International Journal of the Addictions
|April 1, 1978
Summary
The Defense Mechanism Inventory (DMI) shows that certain defense mechanisms in alcoholic patients correlate with psychopathology. Specifically, projection and turning against others indicate higher distress, while intellectualization and denial suggest lower distress.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Addiction Research
Background:
- The Defense Mechanism Inventory (DMI) is a tool used to assess psychological defense mechanisms.
- Understanding defense mechanisms is crucial in treating alcoholism and related psychopathology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the utility of the Defense Mechanism Inventory (DMI) in alcoholic patients.
- To examine the relationship between DMI scores and demographic, cognitive, and personality variables in this population.
Main Methods:
- Review of previous research on the DMI and alcoholism.
- Presentation of new data on DMI test characteristics.
- Analysis of correlations between DMI mechanisms and various patient variables.
Main Results:
- Projection and turning against others were linked to increased anxiety, depression, and psychopathology.
- Intellectualization and denial were associated with lower levels of psychopathology.
- The construct validity of the DMI was questioned based on the findings.
Conclusions:
- The DMI's utility in assessing defense mechanisms in alcoholic patients requires further investigation.
- The study discusses the potential of the DMI for predicting treatment response in alcoholics.
- Findings suggest a nuanced relationship between specific defense mechanisms and psychological distress in alcoholism.