Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship of defense styles with history of self-mutilation (SM) and suicide attempt (SA) in alcohol dependent inpatients.
Method: Participants were consecutively admitted 118 male alcohol dependent inpatients. Patients were investigated with the Self-Mutilative Behavior Questionnaire (SMBQ) and the Defense Style Questionnaire (DSQ).
Results: Acting-out was higher in alcohol dependent patients with a history of SM (n=53, 44.92%) and predicted SM in this group, together with being younger. On the other hand, sublimation, anticipation and suppression (and total mature defense style score) were lower in alcohol dependent patients with suicide attempt history (n=31, 28.44%), but only low anticipation predicted suicide attempt history in this group together with being younger.
Conclusion: These results show that to reduce self-mutilative behaviors and SAs among young alcohol dependent inpatients, therapies should focus on increasing the use of mature defense styles and decreasing the use of immature defense styles.
Key words: Alcohol dependence, defense styles, self-mutilation, suicide attempt
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