TABLE 3.

Obsessional defense level: Definition, function and DMRS-Q items of defenses isolation of affects, intellectualization and undoing.

Defense mechanism	DMRS-Q items
Isolation of affects	ITEM 28: When telling an emotionally meaningful story, the subject states that he or she does not have specific feelings that one would expect, although the subject recognizes that he or she should feel something. ITEM 31: In talking about a meaningful, emotionally charged experience, the subject talks in a detached way, as if he or she is not in touch with the feelings that should surround it. ITEM 39: The subject clearly describes the details of either positive or distressing or traumatic experiences but fails to show any attendant emotion in tone of voice, facial expression, or bodily expression. ITEM 107: The subject talks as if emotionally detached from whatever he says about himself or his experiences. ITEM 140: The subject describes events with good detail, but without mention of any attendant feelings, like a reporter describing the narrative of someone’s life, but devoid of personal reactions.
Intellectualization	ITEM 4: When confronting personal issues, the subject tends to ask general questions, as if getting general information or answers from others will elucidate his or her own feelings and concerns. As a result, personal reactions are kept at a distance. ITEM 26: The subject talks about his personal experiences by making general statements that appear accurate but somehow avoid revealing specific personal feelings and reactions. ITEM 53: There is a lifeless quality to most of the subject’s descriptions of his feelings and reactions, because the subject tries to explain them intellectually rather than experience or express them. For example: ‘My present predicament is an inevitable product of my parents’ extreme expectations and other parental experiences when growing up.’ ITEM 57: The subject distances him or herself from his or her own feelings by speaking about him or herself in the second or third person a lot, as if the subject were talking about someone else. ITEM 60: Whenever focusing on personal issues or experiences the subject tends to generalize or even discuss things in a logical or scientific way, thereby keeping his feelings and experiences very distant.
Undoing	ITEM 48: When another person tries to clarify a statement made by the subject, the subject says thing like ‘well, not really’ or ‘not exactly’ followed by qualifications that do not clearly clarify things. Because the subject is wary of committing him or herself to any statement, the listener may be unsure as to the subject’s definite opinion. ITEM 67: The subject spontaneously describes some of his or her actions which are followed by actions that are of the opposite intent, as if every action must be balanced by an equal but opposite action. The subject is aware of the contradiction which may seem vexing or ironic. ITEM 70: The subject prefaces a strong statement about a topic with a disclaimer, to the effect that what he or she is about to say may not be true. ITEM 81: The subject conveys opinions about something or someone with a series of opposite or contradictory statements, as if uncomfortable with taking a clear stand one way or the other. ITEM 83: After the subject has done something that probably results in a feeling of guilt or shame, the subject makes an act of reparation, as if sorry. However, the subject focuses on the act but avoids dealing with the sense of guilt or shame as one would whenever making a normal apology.