Object relation and defensive operations in transsexuals and borderline patients as measured by the Defense Mechanism Test

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to discern discriminating patterns in the perceptual responses in accordance with the Defense Mechanism Test (DMT), a projective perceptgenetic method, among 41 subjects with the diagnoses transsexualism (TS) or borderline personality disorder (BPD) and a non-patient group (NP). The overall results showed that, by means of a pattern analysis of 130 DMT variables and partial least squares (PLS) discriminant analysis, it was possible to separate these diagnostic groups. A two-dimensional model seemed to be powerful. The quality and the complexity of the self and object representations have to be considered both from a structural/reality-oriented and from an affective perspective. The most characteristic properties of the TS group were high threshold values for perception, including difficulty in perceiving the threat in the stimulus picture, lack of emotional manifestations, and some projection and introjection responses. With regard to the BPD group, a discontinuity of the two-person relationship in the stimulus picture and emotional expressions emerged as discriminating features. The NP group was distinguished by very few DMT distortions and consequently showed a good reality orientation. In brief, the TS group displayed poorer reality testing in the DMT than the borderline group. Furthermore, the BPD group seemed to form their representations affectively compared with the TS group.

Key Words:

• Borderline personality disorder
• Defense Mechanism Test
• Principal component analysis
• Projective methods
• Transsexuality