The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of the neutralization of tactical defenses in Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP) on Defensive Styles, Anxiety, and Fear of Intimacy. In fact, the purpose of this research that distinguishes it from the few studies in the Psychotherapy field is to study the structure of the conflict triangle (feeling, anxiety and defense) with an emphasis on interpersonal defenses. The method of this research was quasi-experimental (pre-test and post-test with control group). Population of this study was all students from Bu-Ali Sina University in Hamedan (dormitories-central site) in the years 2017-2018. Twenty-six of them selected by voluntarily accessible sampling (non-randomized and random replacement sampling) in both experimental and control groups. Data of the research were collected by defense styles questionnaires, state- trait anxiety and fear of intimacy. Clients in the experimental group received each of the interventions (Questioning technique, Pressure, and challenge of the therapeutic protocol ISTDP) during 10 sessions in 45 minutes. Control group received no intervention. Results indicated that the neutralization of tactical defenses reduces the use of immature and neurotic defensive styles, and state and trait anxiety. However, treatment was not effective for increasing the use of mature defensive style and reducing fear of intimacy. The results of this study indicate that the removal of tactical or external defenses that rooted in fear of re-failure in the intimacy and emotional closeness can be effective in reducing interpersonal and interpersonal tensions. In addition, this kind of intervention could change some kind of defensive styles.
