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Learning to Recognize Ego Defense Mechanisms: Results of a Structured Teaching Experience for Psychiatric Residents

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Abstract

Objective

Ego defense mechanism (EDM) recognition can offer a powerful and practical tool in clinical psychiatry. However, recognition skill learning can be difficult to assess and may account for the lack of formal EDM recognition training in residency courses.

Method

This study hypothesized that mean test scores would increase significantly over 8 weeks in a course on practical EDM recognition. Second-year residents from two successive classes (n=25) were tested in the first and the last course sessions using a 10-item, multiple-choice test. Correct answer mean scores were compared using Student’s t test.

Results

Test scores demonstrated an increase in the mean percentage of correct answers between the two time points: 54% versus 82%.

Conclusions

These data suggest that clinical EDM recognition can be systematically taught and that learning can be measured appropriately.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mental Health Service, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (116), 1055 Clermont St., Denver, Colorado, 80220-0116, USA

    Thomas P. Beresford M.D. (Professor of Psychiatry)

  2. Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, Colorado, USA

    Thomas P. Beresford M.D. (Professor of Psychiatry)

Authors
  1. Thomas P. Beresford M.D.
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Correspondence to Thomas P. Beresford M.D..

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Beresford, T.P. Learning to Recognize Ego Defense Mechanisms: Results of a Structured Teaching Experience for Psychiatric Residents. Acad Psychiatry 29, 474–478 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ap.29.5.474

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ap.29.5.474

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