029 Citation: Perrotta G (2021) “Perrotta Human Defense Mechanisms Questionnaire” (PDM-Q): The new psychodiagnostic tool to identify human psychological defense mechanisms and their clinical implications. Arch Depress Anxiety 7(2): 029-033. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.17352/2455-5460.000063 2455-5460 ISSN: https://dx.doi.org/10.17352/ada DOI: MEDICAL GROUP Abstract Starting from the models proposed on the subject of defense mechanisms by Perry-Vaillant, Gleser-Ihilevich, Bond, Haan, Plutchik, Carver and Johnson-Gold, this research focuses attention on the need to respond to the need for a better structure than the current psychodynamic tools, in a functional framework, in terms of defense mechanisms, starting from the nosographic schemes of the Perrotta Integrative Clinical Interviews (PICI-2) and the emotional framework of the Perrotta Human Emotions Model (PHEM) that studies basic emotions and emotional-behavioral reactions. For this reason, with 24 closed multiple-choice narrative questions, on a 0-5 scale, the Perrotta Human Defense Mechanisms Questionnaire (PDM-Q) allows to identify which defense mechanisms the patient uses the most and their degree of functioning, starting from the central role of emotions. The paradigm at the basis of the PDM-Q (able to identify 24 defense mechanisms, in their 28 functional and 59 dysfunctional forms) is therefore to work directly on the emotional states and on the emotional-behavioral reactions of the patient to identify the individual defense mechanisms and their degree of functioning or habitual dysfunction, based on the factual circumstances. Research Article “Perrotta Human Defense Mechanisms Questionnaire” (PDM-Q): The new psychodiagnostic tool to identify human psychological defense mechanisms and their clinical implications Giulio Perrotta* Psychologist sp.ing in Strategic Psychotherapy, Forensic Criminologist, Legal Advisor sp.ed SSPL, Researcher, Essayist, Institute for the study of psychotherapies - ISP, Via San Martino della Battaglia no. 31, 00185, Rome, Italy Received: 20 August, 2021 Accepted: 08 September, 2021 Published: 09 September, 2021 *Corresponding author: Dr. Giulio Perrotta, Psycholo- gist sp.ing in Strategic Psychotherapy, Forensic Criminologist, Legal Advisor sp.ed SSPL, Researcher, Essayist, Institute for the study of psychotherapies - ISP, Via San Martino della Battaglia no. 31, 00185, Rome, Italy, E-mail: ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0229-5562 https://www.peertechzpublications.com Contents of the manuscript Definition and historical profiles The "human defense mechanisms", in the psychological field, are psychic processes, followed by a behavioral reaction, implemented by the ego to deal with difficult situations, to manage conflicts and to preserve its own functioning from the interference of disturbing, painful and unacceptable thoughts, feelings and experiences. These are mechanisms that: a) are activated as a result of a threat, presumed or real, automatically and therefore outside the sphere of awareness; b) consist of mental operations of a cognitive type, in order to ensure the best possible adaptation; c) contribute to the stability, integrity and functionality of the personality structure; d) are clearly distinguished from each other, by function. The dysfunctionality or immaturity of one or more defense mechanisms must be evaluated on the basis of the age adequacy compared to the actual maturity, on the basis of the intensity of the measure compared to the consequences of the action and coping strategies, on the basis of the balance between opportunity, efficiency, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the defense mechanism actually intervened compared to the need and the actual or potential threat, and on the basis of the reversibility or otherwise of the action compared to the defensive function that was expected [1-4].