Bidirectional Associations Between Defense Mechanisms and Therapeutic Techniques in Psychotherapies for Panic Disorder

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Main Authors: Serena Z. Chen, Nili Solomonov, Mary V. Minges, Kevin S. McCarthy, Fredrik Falkenström, Dianne L. Chambless, Barbara Milrod, Jacques P. Barber
Format: Artículo Open Access
Published: Wiley 2025
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author Serena Z. Chen
Nili Solomonov
Mary V. Minges
Kevin S. McCarthy
Fredrik Falkenström
Dianne L. Chambless
Barbara Milrod
Jacques P. Barber
author_facet Serena Z. Chen
Nili Solomonov
Mary V. Minges
Kevin S. McCarthy
Fredrik Falkenström
Dianne L. Chambless
Barbara Milrod
Jacques P. Barber
Serena Z. Chen
Nili Solomonov
Mary V. Minges
Kevin S. McCarthy
Fredrik Falkenström
Dianne L. Chambless
Barbara Milrod
Jacques P. Barber
collection Wiley Open Access
contents Bidirectional Associations Between Defense Mechanisms and Therapeutic Techniques in Psychotherapies for Panic Disorder Serena Z. Chen Nili Solomonov Mary V. Minges Kevin S. McCarthy Fredrik Falkenström Dianne L. Chambless Barbara Milrod Jacques P. Barber Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy ABSTRACT Objective The current study investigated bidirectional associations between defense mechanisms and therapeutic techniques in two different psychotherapies for panic disorder (PD). Identifying how technique use facilitates and is facilitated by change in defenses might guide adaptation and improvement of therapies. Method Patient defense mechanisms and use of therapeutic techniques were measured at early, mid, and late‐treatment for 101 patients receiving panic‐focused psychodynamic psychotherapy (PFPP) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Time‐lagged associations between use of techniques and psychological defenses were examined using random‐intercept cross‐lagged panel models. Results In PFPP, less‐organized defense use at mid‐treatment predicted higher therapist focus on the patient's moment‐to‐moment experience and affect at late‐treatment. In CBT, greater therapist focus on the patient's thoughts and cognitions at early‐treatment predicted use of more adaptive defenses at mid‐treatment. Conclusion Results underscore differential treatment effects in the relationship between techniques and change in defensive functioning over time. Key Messages In cognitive behavioral therapy, therapists could focus on patients' thoughts and cognitions to foster adaptive defensive functioning like intellectualization and rationalization. In panic‐focused psychodynamic psychotherapy, therapists might increase affect‐focused interventions to target when patients persist in using lower adaptive defenses. Broadly, therapists can also be aware that their use of therapeutic interventions may be influenced by their patient's defensive functioning. 10.1002/cpp.70081 http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor
doi_str_mv 10.1002/cpp.70081
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institution Wiley Open Access
license_str_mv http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor
publishDate 2025
publisher Wiley
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spellingShingle Bidirectional Associations Between Defense Mechanisms and Therapeutic Techniques in Psychotherapies for Panic Disorder
Serena Z. Chen
Nili Solomonov
Mary V. Minges
Kevin S. McCarthy
Fredrik Falkenström
Dianne L. Chambless
Barbara Milrod
Jacques P. Barber
Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy
Bidirectional Associations Between Defense Mechanisms and Therapeutic Techniques in Psychotherapies for Panic Disorder Serena Z. Chen Nili Solomonov Mary V. Minges Kevin S. McCarthy Fredrik Falkenström Dianne L. Chambless Barbara Milrod Jacques P. Barber Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy ABSTRACT Objective The current study investigated bidirectional associations between defense mechanisms and therapeutic techniques in two different psychotherapies for panic disorder (PD). Identifying how technique use facilitates and is facilitated by change in defenses might guide adaptation and improvement of therapies. Method Patient defense mechanisms and use of therapeutic techniques were measured at early, mid, and late‐treatment for 101 patients receiving panic‐focused psychodynamic psychotherapy (PFPP) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Time‐lagged associations between use of techniques and psychological defenses were examined using random‐intercept cross‐lagged panel models. Results In PFPP, less‐organized defense use at mid‐treatment predicted higher therapist focus on the patient's moment‐to‐moment experience and affect at late‐treatment. In CBT, greater therapist focus on the patient's thoughts and cognitions at early‐treatment predicted use of more adaptive defenses at mid‐treatment. Conclusion Results underscore differential treatment effects in the relationship between techniques and change in defensive functioning over time. Key Messages In cognitive behavioral therapy, therapists could focus on patients' thoughts and cognitions to foster adaptive defensive functioning like intellectualization and rationalization. In panic‐focused psychodynamic psychotherapy, therapists might increase affect‐focused interventions to target when patients persist in using lower adaptive defenses. Broadly, therapists can also be aware that their use of therapeutic interventions may be influenced by their patient's defensive functioning. 10.1002/cpp.70081 http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor
title Bidirectional Associations Between Defense Mechanisms and Therapeutic Techniques in Psychotherapies for Panic Disorder
topic Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy
url https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cpp.70081