A review of published studies shows that depressive disorders are correlated with specific defense patterns which may underlie particular personality trials. High comorbidity among depressive and personality conditions is a consistent but not well-understood finding.

We assessed the relations between defense mechanisms and MMPI-2 profiles used by depressive patients.

The aim of the present study was to investigate how depressive disorders are related to the use of specific defenses and how it is corelated with particular MMPI-2 scales.

Authors examinated a sample of 50 adult outpatients aged 21 to 55 diagnosed with depressive disorders according to DSM-IV. The Bond Defense Style Questionnaire (DSQ) was used to assess defense styles. Patients were also examined with MMPI-2.

Depressive disorder patients scored higher for the immature defense styles. Increased scores in psychopatological scales in MMPI-2 were positively related to the immature, neurotic and particular narcistic, and negatively to the mature defense mechanisms.

These findings suggest that interpretation of defense styles and particular MMPI-2 scales is useful for the psychological and personological diagnosis to direct psychological assistance. These findings could lead to the development of specific psychotherapeutic interventions.