The defense mechanisms of coronary patients

Tested 73 male inpatients with coronary heart disease on the Defense Mechanisms Inventory, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and a perception of health measure. Ss were followed for 5 years. Success of defenses was measured by lower anxiety, higher perception of health, and survival. Principalization was discovered to be the most successful and Projection the least successful defense. When a typology of patients was constructed using cluster analysis, those with high Principalization and low Reversal were judged to cope best. Although the efficacy of repressing defenses during crisis received support, both the type of repressing defense used and its relationship to other defenses were important in determining successful outcome.