A Comparison of Three Rorschach Diagnostic Systems and Use of the Hand Test for Detecting Multiple Personality Disorder in Outpatients

Eleven individuals diagnosed with multiple personality disorder (MPD) on the basis of clinical observation by experienced therapists plus elevated scores on the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES; Bernstein & Putnam. 1986) were administered the Rorschach Inkblo; Test and the Hand Test. Results from the sample (n = 11) and a matched control group (N = 22) were analyzed and discussed in accordance with previous Rorschach diagnostic systems. The Wagner Signs diagnosed 91% (n = 10) of the MPD cases in this outpatient sample, with no false positives. The Labott Signs were found to have no utility, and the Barach Signs, when they occurred, seemed to be diagnostic of MPD but yielded a high rate of false negatives. Hand Test results were analyzed and found to be possibly diagnostic of MPD. Tentative criteria were proposed for its use as an additional tool for diagnosing MPD.     

A Preliminary Analysis of the Rorschach Records of Fifty Prison Inmates

An attempt was made to test the hypothesis that the Egocentricity Index (Exner, 1974), a ratio which incorporates pair and reflection responses, is related to self-esteem. Sixty criminal defendants referred for psychiatric evaluation were routinely administered the Rorschach. After all other testing was Completed the subjects were asked to complete the Coopersmith Self-esteem Inventory. Results found no significant relationships between the Egocentricity Index and self-esteem as measured by the Coopersmith. It was recommended that the Egocentricity Index not be used as a measure of self-esteem, until research evidence to support its use in this manner is provided.     

Brief Rorschach Records With Children and Adolescents

In order to determine the frequency with which children and adolescents give brief Rorschach ( R < 14) records and to test the hypothesis that brief records represent a resistance to testing, the psychological evaluations of 439 admissions to an inpatient unit were reviewed. Of the records reviewed, 16.6% were found to contain less than 14 responses. When the complete test protocols of those subjects who provided brief records were compared with those of a matched group, it was found that the group with brief records failed to complete the other parts of the evaluation significantly more often than did those subjects who did not give brief records. There was no significant difference between the two groups on IQ scores or on self-report scores of depression, anxiety, and social desirability. Results are interpreted as supporting Exner's (1988) hypothesis that brief records represent a form of resistance to being tested.     

Rorschach indicators of Multiple Personality Disorder.

The increase in reported cases of Multiple Personality Disorder underscores a great need to differentiate clearly this from other psychiatric disorders and from simulation of Multiple Personality Disorder. Two sets of Rorschach signs have been advanced as clinical markers by their developers, namely Barach and also Wagner, Allison, and Wagner. As the Wagner signs are prevalent in much of the research on Rorschach responses in Multiple Personality Disorder, the purpose of the present study was to evaluate these signs using Wagner's administration and the resulting Rorschach protocols of 16 Multiple Personality Disorder patients and 16 psychiatric controls. Analysis indicated that this system was deficient in correctly classifying these 32 protocols. A new marker, the Splitting Response, emerged, however, which was more useful. This response, in combination with at least one Dissociative response, produced an accuracy rate of 94%. These new criteria may be useful aids in the detection of Multiple Personality Disorder from Rorschach protocols. Replication is urged.     

Rorschach Administration: A Comparison of the Effect of Two Instructions

Ratings of affect words are the most commonly used method to assess pleasant affect (PA) and unpleasant affect (UA). The reliance on self-reports would be problematic if affect ratings were heavily influenced by response styles. Several recent publications have indeed suggested (a) that the influence of response styles on affect ratings is pervasive, (b) that this influence can be controlled by variations of the response format using multitrait-multimethod models, and (c) the discriminant validity of PA and UA is spurious. In this article, we examined the evidence for these claims. We demonstrate that (a) response styles have a negligible effect on affect ratings, (b) multiple response formats produce the same results as a single response format, and (c) the discriminant validity of PA and UA is not a method artifact. Rather, evidence against discriminant validity is due to the use of inappropriate response formats that respondents interpreted as bipolar scales.     

A Comparison of Rorschach Responses Between Negro and White College Students

Abstract

David, Henry P. and Brengelmann, J.C., (eds.). Perspectives In Personality Research. New York: Springer, Inc., 1960. 370 pp. $7.50. Reviewed by Kenneth R. Wurtz

Gottsegen, Monroe G. and Gottsegen, Gloria B. Professional School Psychology. New York: Grune &; Stratton, 1960, Pp. 292, $7.75. Reviewed by Henry L. Levy

Klopfer, Walter G. The Psychological Report: Use and Communication of Psychological Findings. New York: Grune &; Stratton, 1960. Pp. ix and 146. Reviewed by Dale S. Higbee     

The Behn-Rorschach Inkblots: A Preliminary Comparison with the Original Rorschach Series

Abstract

Beck, Samuel J., The Rorschach Experiment, New York, New York; Grune and Stratton, 1960, Pp. 256, $6.50. Reviewed by John Gladfelter

Bohm, Ewald, Psychodiagnostisches Vademecum. Bern and Stuttgart: Verlag Hans Huber, 1960. 177 p. DM 22.80. Reviewed by Hans J. Priester

Hutt, M. L. &; Briskin, G. J. The Clinical Use of the Revised Bender-Gestalt Test. Grune &; Stratton, N.Y., 1960. Pp. 168. Price $5.00. Reviewed by S. Z. Dudek

Kataguchi, Yasufumi, Rorschachiana Japonica, 1960, Volume 3. Tokyo, Japan: Seishin Book Co. Reviewed by Walter G. Klopfer

Rabin, Albert I. and Haworth, Mary R. (Eds.), Projective Techniques with Children, New York: Grune &; Straton, Publisher. 1960, $11.75. Reviewed by Walter G. Klopfer

Ross, Allan O. Practice of Clinical Child Psychology. Grune and Stratton, New York, 1959. Reviewed by Bernice T. Eiduson

Walder, H. Drive Structure and Criminality. Criminobiologic Investigations. C. C. Thomas, Springfield, Ill., 1959, pp. XVII + 174, $7.50. Reviewed by F. Ferracuti

Wylie, Ruth C., The Self Concept. A Critical Survey of Pertinent Research Literature. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1961, pp. xiii and 370, $4.50. Reviewed by Wilson H. Guertin     

A Comparison of Clinical Manifestations of Hostility with Rorschach and MAPS Test Performances

Abstract

De Martino, Manfred F., (Ed.) Dreams and personality dynamics. Springfield, III.: Charles C. Thomas. 1959, pp. 377, $10.00. Reviewed by Sohan Lal Sharma

Ledwith, Nettie H. A Rorschach Study of Child Development. Pittsburgh, Pa: Univ. of Pittsburgh Press 1960 pp. lx-336. Reviewed by Mortimer M. Meyer

Nel, B. F., and Pelser, A. J. K. The South African Picture Analysis Test (SAPAT). Amsterdam: Swets &; Zeitlinger, 1960; pp. 74. Paper bound. Price with plates ca. $6.50. Reviewed by Wilson H. Guertin

Orr, Miriam Le Test De Rorschach et L'Imago Maternelle. (The Rorschach and maternal imago.) Paris: Groupement Francais du Rorschach, 1958, pp. 104, paper bound, 500 fr. Reviewed by Mary Engel

Zulliger, H. The Behn-Rorschach Test. Hans Huber, Bern: 1956, 200 pp. Reviewed by Murray Levine     

A Comparison of the Occurrence of Oral and Anal Content on the Rorschach

The Rorschachs of 102 male psychiatric patients were scored by the Holt system for manifestations of anal and oral psychosexual content. The frequency of occurrence of the two types of content was contrasted. Oral content occurred nearly twice as frequently as that of anal content (t test significant at less than .001 level). There was some suggestion that this difference decreases when the content expressed is of a very primitive nature.