A comparative study of adolescents in psychiatric care assessed by means of the Defense Mechanism Test and the DSM-IV classification system

• Twenty-seven adolescents in psychiatric care, assessed by means of DSM-IV, and 33 healthy controls were tested using the projective percept-genetic Defense Mechanism Test (DMT). Three diagnostic subgroups were created: psychotic (Axis 1), borderline personality disorder (Axis 2), and a non-patient group. The test protocols were scored with regard to 130 DMT variables and analyzed by means of partial least squares (PLS) discriminant analysis and by means of a pattern analysis of the DMT variables. The results showed that it was possible to distinguish significantly among the three groups. Specific perceptual distortions were identified among the three groups. It was concluded that DMT is a promising instrument in the assessment of adolescents in psychiatric care.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Psykiatri (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Psychiatry (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Adolescents

Defense Mechanism Test

DSM-IV diagnoses

Multivariate analysis

Projective methods

Publikations- och innehållstyp

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