Defense mechanisms and coping behavior in terminal illness. An overview

Area of Science:

• Psychosomatic Medicine
• Psychology

Background:

• Illness behavior, encompassing defense mechanisms and coping styles, is a growing focus in psychosomatic medicine.
• Understanding patient responses to serious illness is crucial for effective psychosocial support.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare defense mechanisms and social adaptation in patients with probable terminal illnesses of iatrogenic origin.
• To explore the relationship between illness-related defenses, general life stress defenses, and social adaptation.

Main Methods:

• A group of 31 patients with probable terminal illnesses of iatrogenic origin were assessed.
• Defense mechanisms against illness and general life stress were evaluated.
• Social adaptation was assessed alongside ego measures.

Main Results:

• A notable conformity was found between defense profiles for illness and general life stress.
• Reaction-formation and stoicism were identified as key defense mechanisms for successful coping.
• Illness 'aggravators' demonstrated greater psychological stability than 'minimizers', contrasting with findings in nonterminal illnesses.

Conclusions:

• Defense mechanisms against illness and general life stress appear interconnected.
• Psychological stability in terminal illness may manifest differently, with 'aggravators' showing resilience.
• These findings have theoretical implications for understanding illness behavior in psychosomatic medicine.