Conversion disorder and multiple chemical sensitivity: A comparative studyof psychological defense strategies

This study compared psychological defensive strategies in two groups of pat ients with multiple chemical sensitivity (n = 10) and conversion disorder ( n = 10) by means of the projective perceptual Defense Mechanism Test. We at tempted to create a model for personality assessment based on the test data of prior patients, in which new patients could successively be tested. The overall results indicated that it was possible to separate the clinical gr oups significantly from a control group and from each other. In comparison to the controls, the clinical groups were characterized by patterns that we re more nonemotionally adapted as well by a lateness of perception, but the ways in which the clinical groups maintained this difference were not the same. The multiple chemical sensitivity group was characterized above all b y blocking maneuvers, while the main defensive strategy of the conversion d isorder group was distortion of content.