Defensive constellation and styles of recovery from schizophrenic episodes.

Abstract

Two distinct styles of recovery from a schizophrenic episode, namely, integration and sealing over, have been described in a number of clinical reports. This investigation focused on differences in the defensive organization of the two styles; specifically, that integrators possess a less primitive constellation of defensive organizations (less dominated by denial, negation, and repression). These results are discussed in relation to psychodynamic theory and their implications for the treatment process.