Abstract. Objective. To examine the differences in mature, immature and neurotic defense mechanisms before and after treatment in a day psychiatric hospital. Methods. 92 patients treated in the day psychiatric hospital participated in the research. The DSQ-40 questionnaire and a demographic data ques-tionnaire were used in the research. Results. The results showed that with mature defense mechanisms there is a significant difference between sublimation (t=4.520, df=91, p<0.001) and humor (-2.695, df=91, p=0.008), with neurotic defense mechanisms there is a significant difference between denial (t=4.981, df=91, p<0.001), idealization (t=3.030; df=91; p=0.003) and reactive formation (-2.144; df=91, p=0.035), and in immature defense mechanisms there is a significant difference in passive aggression (t=-3.176, df=91, p=0.002) and denial (t=2.576, df=91, p=0.012). Conclusions. Although certain changes in individual defense mechanisms occurred during treatment, they did not follow the expected changes in terms of replacing lower levels of maturity with higher ones. Within each group of defense mechanisms certain mechanisms have been replaced by others.

Key words: defense mechanisms, psychiatric day hospital, anxiety, depression

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