Only an inkblot? A literature review of the neural correlates of the Rorschach inkblot test.

The Rorschach inkblot test allows access to psychological processes that usually do not emerge in self-report measures and it has been widely used in clinical psychological and psychiatric settings. Recordings of brain activity during the administration of the Rorschach inkblots test could provide information on neural correlates of the underlying perceptual-cognitive processing and potentially identify neuroimaging markers of psychopathology risk. The present paper offers a systematization of the available literature on the Rorschach inkblot test and neuroimaging research. The 13 selected studies had been conducted with healthy participants and using fMRI, EEG, and fNIRS to investigate the neural underpinnings of Rorschach inkblot test responses. The neural processes underlying the visual, social, and emotional processes described by the included papers are systematically summarized. Research on the neural correlates of the Rorschach inkblot test is promising and would further benefit from studies on clinical populations, broader samples, and younger age groups.

Comparing the Validity of the Rorschach Performance Assessment System and Exner's Comprehensive System to Differentiate Patients and Nonpatients.

Building on the comparative nonpatient study of Pianowski et al., we examine data from the Rorschach Performance Assessment System (R-PAS) and Comprehensive System (CS) in 100 nonpatients and 100 patients, 50 of each per system. Replicating their results but now in a patient sample, R-PAS produced more patient protocols having an optimal number of responses (R) for interpretation and eliminated the need for readministration due to low R. The R-PAS protocols were also much less variable in R, despite having about 2.5 more responses. Extending their results, we document that the primary markers of psychopathology in each system validly differentiate patients from nonpatients. However, R-PAS produced stronger effects. Finally, Complexity added to the valid discrimination of patients from nonpatients just for R-PAS, with patients producing less complex and rich records. The more erratic variability in R for the CS produced larger Complexity standard deviations (SDs) that obscured these genuine differences in people. We discuss implications for research and applied practice, along with directions for future research.

Excursions in Rorschachlandia: Surveying the scientific and philosophical landscape of Hermann Rorschach's Psychodiagnostics.

This article examines the milieu of Hermann Rorschach's Psychodiagnostics (1921/2021) under development between 1911 and his death in 1922 and explores new evidence about the direction Rorschach's test might have taken after publication of Psychodiagnostics. This includes direct and indirect influences from turn of the century continental philosophy and science and innovative colleagues in the Swiss psychiatric and psychoanalytic societies. The availability of newly translated scholarship, including the correspondence between Ludwig Binswanger and Hermann Rorschach following the 1921 publication of Psychodiagnostics, Binswanger's posthumous 1923 commentary in the International Journal of Psychoanalysis, and recent new translation of Psychodiagnostics, permits a fresh appraisal of the milieu and foundations of Rorschach's development. Understanding these sources and influences opens new vistas in reappraising the nature of Rorschach's "test theory" which Rorschach considered undeveloped at the time of his death. This paper presents new evidence that, under the influence of Rorschach's close colleague, Ludwig Binswanger, the Geisteswissenschaften and phenomenology might have figured prominently in future developments. The paper concludes that Rorschach, preoccupied with considerations of kinesthetic subjectivity in his innovative conceptualization of human movement responses, was a nascent phenomenologist whose untimely death cut short further developments in his theory of the test.

As transformações psíquicas através do Rorschach: Juan, um adolescente e não um Don Juan! / Las transformaciones psíquicas en el Rorschach: Juan, un adolescente y no un Don Juan! / Psychic transformations through the Rorschach: Juan, an adolescent not a Don Juan!

RESUMO A adolescência é uma fase do desenvolvimento que se caracteriza pela presença de importantes transformações psíquicas que constituem a base dos processos de identidade e de identificação. No contexto social atual, a capacidade de integrar as diferenças culturais é um imperativo do ponto de vista social e emocional, não só para os adolescentes, mas para todos os que com eles se relacionam, sejam pais, professores e técnicos de saúde. Neste artigo, a autora procura realizar uma dupla análise: (1) Apresentar o trabalho psicoterapêutico realizado com Juan, um adolescente de 17 anos, durante o qual é possível observar as mudanças inerentes à construção da sua identidade e dos processos de identificação, inspirando-se num clássico literário espanhol, Don Juan; (2) A utilização do Rorschach, como instrumento de acesso privilegiado ao mundo interior do sujeito, que permite uma compreensão singular das transformações psíquicas presentes no processo de tornar-se adolescente. A utilização do Rorschach desta forma é uma abordagem inovadora para compreender os processos psíquicos envolvidos, melhorando a intervenção na clínica. No caso de Juan, foi possível ver além do seu diagnóstico clínico, lançando novos olhares sobre as suas capacidades psíquicas, favorecendo a construção de uma postura mais adulta, visível no seu desempenho académico, nas relações interpessoais e na dinâmica familiar. Esse trabalho clínico só foi possível graças aos referenciais teóricos que enfatizam os processos de comunicação e de simbolização.

RESUMEN. La adolescencia es un periodo de desarrollo que se caracteriza por la presencia de importantes transformaciones que están en la base de los procesos de identidad y de identificación. En el contexto social actual, la capacidad de integrar las diferencias culturales es un imperativo desde el punto de vista social y emocional, no solo para los adolescentes, sino para cualquier persona que tenga relación con ellos, ya sean padres, docentes y técnicos de salud. En este artículo, el autor busca realizar un doble análisis: (1) Presentar el trabajo psicoterapéutico realizado con Juan, un adolescente de 17 años, durante el cual es posible observar los cambios inherentes a la construcción de su identidad e identificación, presentada aquí con inspiración de un clásico literario español, Don Juan; (2) El empleo de la prueba de Rorschach, como instrumento de acceso privilegiado al mundo interior del sujeto, que permite una comprensión singular de las transformaciones psíquicas implicadas en el proceso de convertirse en adolescente. La utilización del Rorschach de esta manera es un enfoque innovador para comprender los procesos psíquicos involucrados, mejorando así la intervención clínica. En el caso de Juan, fue posible mirar más allá de su diagnóstico clínico, permitiendo que esta nueva lectura resalte sus habilidades psíquicas, favoreciendo la construcción de un nuevo posicionamiento, visible en su éxito académico, en las relaciones interpersonales y en su dinámica familiar. Este trabajo clínico solo fue posible dado el nuevo marco teórico que enfatiza los procesos de comunicación y simbolización.

ABSTRACT Adolescence is a stage of development that is characterized by the presence of important psychic transformations that form the base of the processes of identity and identification. In the current social context, the ability to integrate cultural differences is an imperative from a social and emotional standpoint, not only for adolescents, but anyone who has a relationship with them, be they parents, teachers and health technicians. In this article, the author seeks to carry out two-fold analysis: (1) Present the psychotherapeutic work conducted with Juan, a 17-year-old adolescent, during which it is possible to observe the changes inherent to the construction of his identity and identification, presented here with inspiration from a Spanish literary classic, Don Juan; (2) The employment of the Rorschach test, as an instrument granting privileged access to the subject's inner world, which allows for a singular understanding of the psychic transformations involved in the process of becoming an adolescent. Applying a Rorschach test in this fashion is an innovative approach to understanding the psychic underpinnings involved, thereby enhancing clinical intervention. In Juan's case, it was possible to look beyond his clinical diagnosis, shedding new light on his psychic abilities, favoring the construction of a new position, one more adult and one evidenced in improved academic performance, interpersonal relationships, and family dynamics. This clinical work was further enabled by theoretical frameworks that emphasize the processes of communication and symbolization.

Suicidal Ideation in University Students: a Rorschach Assessment / Ideação Suicida em Estudantes Universitários: Avaliação com Rorschach / Ideación Suicida en Estudiantes Universitarios: Evaluación con Rorschach

Abstract University students are particularly susceptible to suicidal ideation and behavior due to issues inherent to this vital lives' moment. The Rorschach test can help to understand these students' suffering. The objective was to evaluate perception, thinking, stress, and distress in the Rorschach test domains in university students attended at a public university mental health service, comparing students with suicidal ideation with those without it. A total of 36 students aged 18 or over were assessed. The instruments were: Rorschach Performance Assessment System (R-PAS), Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) and Self Report Questionnaire (SRQ-20). Two analyses were performed using Wilcoxon Mann-Whitney test, according to the presence of suicidal ideation in the last 30 days (SRQ-20) and in the last six months (C-SSRS). Statistically significant differences were found in the two analyses, indicative of greater perceptual distortion in students without suicidal ideation and of stress and distress in students with ideation.

Resumo Estudantes universitários são particularmente suscetíveis a ideação e comportamento suicidas decorrentes de problemas inerentes a este momento vital. O método de Rorschach pode contribuir na compreensão do sofrimento destes estudantes. O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar os domínios percepção, pensamento, estresse e angústia no Rorschach de estudantes universitários atendidos em serviço de saúde mental de universidade pública, comparando estudantes com ideação suicida com aqueles sem ideação. Foram avaliados 36 estudantes com 18 anos ou mais. Os instrumentos foram: Rorschach Performance Assessment System (R-PAS), Escala de Avaliação do Risco de Suicídio de Columbia (C-SSRS) e Self Report Questionnaire (SRQ-20). Foram realizadas duas análises com teste de Wilcoxon Mann-Whitney, segundo a presença de ideação nos últimos 30 dias (SRQ-20) e nos últimos 6 meses (C-SSRS). Foram observadas diferenças estatísticas significativas nas duas análises, indicativas de maior distorção perceptiva nos alunos sem ideação suicida e de angústia e estresse nos estudantes com ideação.

Resumen Estudiantes universitarios son particularmente susceptibles a ideación y comportamiento suicida debido a problemas inherentes a este momento vital. El Rorschach puede ayudar a comprender su sufrimiento. El objetivo fue evaluar los dominios percepción, pensamiento, estrés y angustia en el Rorschach de universitarios atendidos en un servicio de salud mental de universidad pública, comparando estudiantes con ideación suicida con aquellos sin esa ideación. Se evaluaron 36 estudiantes de pregrado y posgrado de 18 años o más. Los instrumentos fueron: Rorschach Performance Assessment System, Escala Columbia para Evaluar la Seriedad de la Ideación Suicida (C-SSRS) y Self Report Questionnaire (SRQ-20). Se realizaron dos análisis con Wilcoxon Mann-Whitney test, según la presencia de ideación en los últimos 30 días (SRQ-20) y en los últimos 6 meses (C-SSRS). Hubo diferencias estadísticamente significativas en los dos análisis, indicativas de mayor distorsión perceptiva en estudiantes sin ideación suicida y de angustia y estrés en estudiantes con ideación.

O florir da violeta: um estudo de caso em avaliação terapêutica / The flowering of violet: a case study in therapeutic assessment / La flor de la violeta: un estudio de caso en evaluación terapéutica

A Avaliação Terapêutica (AT) é um processo avaliativo e interventivo proposto para ser semiestruturado e colaborativo com o objetivo de promover mudanças positivas no cliente, que é convidado a ter uma participação ativa durante o processo. Na AT, os resultados dos testes psicológicos padronizados ganham destaque como facilitadores do processo de autoconhecimento do cliente. Desse modo, usualmente, integram-se os achados de testes psicológicos de autorrelato com os métodos projetivos para gerar informações que possam ampliar a visão que o cliente tem de si. Neste artigo, buscou-se compreender o potencial de uso dos testes psicológicos e da relação colaborativa a partir de um caso atendido na perspectiva da AT. A participante, Violeta (nome fictício), foi atendida em 10 sessões com duração entre 60 e 115 minutos. Foram utilizados os testes psicológicos Escala de Bem-Estar Psicológico (Ebep), Escala de Vulnerabilidade e Estresse no Trabalho (Event), Bateria Fatorial de Personalidade (BFP), Método de Rorschach e Inventários de Habilidades Sociais 2 (IHS-2). Observou-se que, durante o processo, Violeta ampliou sua autopercepção, o que possibilitou mudanças no modo de agir em seus relacionamentos amorosos e na reflexão sobre como sua postura era vista por si e por seus colegas de trabalho. Acredita-se que a AT cumpriu com o objetivo de estabelecer uma experiência terapêutica que possibilitasse mudanças positivas para a cliente. Este estudo de caso contribuiu para ampliar a compreensão sobre a importância e o uso dos testes psicológicos neste modelo de avaliação psicológica.(AU)

The Therapeutic Assessment (TA) is an evaluative and interventional process proposed to be semi-structured and collaborative with the objective of promoting positive changes in the client, who is invited to have an active participation during the process. At the TA, the results of standardized psychological tests are highlighted as facilitators of the client's self-knowledge process. In this way, the findings of psychological self-report tests are usually integrated with projective methods to generate information that can broaden the client's view of themselves. In this article, understanding the potential use of psychological tests and of the collaborative relationship from a case treated from the TA perspective was sought. The participant, Violet (fictitious name), was assisted in 10 sessions lasting between 60 and 115 minutes. The psychological tests Psychological Well-Being Scale (EBEP), Vulnerability and Stress at Work Scale (EVENT), Personality Factorial Battery (BFP), Rorschach Method and Social Skills Inventories 2 (IHS-2) were used. It was observed that, during the process, Violet increased her self-perception, which allowed changes in her way of acting in her love life and in her reflection on how her posture was seen by herself and herco-workers. It is believed that TA fulfilled the objective of establishing a therapeutic experience that would enable positive changes for the client. This case study contributed to broaden the understanding about the importance and use of psychological testing in this psychological assessment model.(AU)

La Evaluación Terapéutica (ET) es un proceso de evaluación e intervención que se propone ser semiestructurado y colaborativo, con el objetivo de lograr cambios positivos en el cliente, quien es invitado a tener participación activa durante el proceso. En la ET se destacan los resultados de las pruebas psicológicas estandarizadas como facilitadoras del proceso de autoconocimiento del cliente. Los hallazgos de las pruebas psicológicas de autoinforme suelen integrarse con métodos proyectivos para generar información que pueda ampliar la visión que el cliente tiene de sí mismo. En este artículo se buscó comprender el uso potencial de las pruebas psicológicas y de la relación colaborativa a partir de un estudio de caso tratado desde la perspectiva de la ET. Atendieron a la participante Violeta (nombre ficticio), en 10 sesiones que duraron entre 60 y 115 minutos. Se utilizaron las pruebas psicológicas Escala de Bienestar Psicológico (EBEP), Escala de Vulnerabilidad y Estrés en el Trabajo (EVENT), Batería de Factorial de la Personalidad (BFP), Método de Rorschach e Inventario de Habilidades Sociales 2 (IHS-dos). Se observó que, durante el proceso, Violeta amplió su autopercepción, lo que permitió cambios en la forma de actuar en sus relaciones amorosas y en el reflejo de como ella y sus compañeros de trabajo veían su postura. Así, se cree que ET ha cumplido el objetivo de establecer una experiencia terapéutica que permitió cambios positivos a la cliente. Este estudio contribuyó a ampliar la comprensión sobre la importancia y el uso de las pruebas psicológicas en este modelo de evaluación psicológica.(AU)

Cognition and psychopathy in incarcerated sexual offenders / Cognição e psicopatia em autores de violência sexual encarcerados

Objective: The objective was to investigate if perpetrators of sexual offenses against children and adolescents with and without psychopathy differ regarding cognitive aspects. Method: A total of 30 male inmates participated in the study, divided into two groups: one that included psychopaths and the other with non-psychopaths. The instruments used were: protocol for collecting information on criminal court records; Rorschach test according to the Performance Assessment System, considering the cognitive variables and the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised Scale. Results: The results indicate that psychopaths exhibit greater impairment in the organization of thoughts, as well as greater vulnerability to the general personality disruption. The best regression model showed that 55% of psychopathy can be explained by a greater propensity to a general personality disorder (EII-3 β: 4.77; p-value < 0.001), associated with the predisposition to be arrested at a young age (β: -0.26; p-value = 0.004). Conclusion: The efficiency of the R-PAS is observed in the identification of cognitive failures in psychopath perpetrators of sexual violence and perpetrators of sexual violence, and its usefulness is enhanced, when associated with other behavioral measures in the identification of this type of personality profile.

Objetivo: O objetivo foi investigar se autores de violência sexual contra crianças e adolescentes, com e sem psicopatia, se diferenciam em relação aos aspectos cognitivos. Método: Participaram do estudo 30 reeducandos cumprindo pena em regime fechado, divididos em dois grupos: um composto pelos psicopatas e outro pelos não psicopatas. Os instrumentos utilizados foram: protocolo de coleta de informações no processo criminal; teste de Rorschach, de acordo com o Sistema de Avaliação por Performance, considerando as variáveis cognitivas, e; a escala Psychopathy Checklist-Revised. Resultados: Os resultados indicaram que o grupo de psicopatas apresentou maiores prejuízos na organização do pensamento, bem como maior vulnerabilidade à desorganização geral da personalidade. O melhor modelo de regressão identificou que 55% da psicopatia pode ser explicada por uma maior propensão ao desajuste geral da personalidade (EII-3 β: 4.77; p-value < 0.001), associada à predisposição a ser preso ainda jovem (β: -0.26; p-value = 0.004). Conclusão: A eficiência do R-PAS é observada na identificação de falhas cognitivas em psicopatas autores de violência sexual e autores de violência sexual, e sua utilidade é potencializada, quando associada a outras medidas comportamentais na identificação desse tipo de perfil de personalidade.

Blots and brains. A note on the centenary of Hermann Rorschach's death.

This historical note is a commemorial of Rorschach, the person, and Rorschach the test. Hermann Rorschach died 100 years ago, not quite a year after the publication of his book containing the 10 inkblots. These have reached an iconic status, but the "Rorschach Test" as used in psychiatry, legal organizations and aptitude assessments is not quite what Hermann Rorschach designed it for in the first line. A first section of this article introduces Hermann Rorschach as a man with very broad interests and an inclination to ask cognitive science questions that are still challenging today. A second section provides a critical summary of the fate of the ten inkblots after Rorschach's death - how they conquered the whole world in a time with a pronouced "psychometric attitude", and also how they failed in some attempts to measure personality traits in special populations. A final section focuses on recent research on one particular aspect of a testee's associations to the inkblots: "movement responses", i.e. the perception of implied motion. Here, neural and behavioral correlates have been demonstrated by modern neuroimaging techniques. One study, which set out to validate both the Rorschach as a personality test and the view that the two cerebral hemispheres correspond to divergent "personalities" is also summarized. The viewpoint concludes by suggesting that future work with inkblots should consider Rorschach's original intention to use inkblots to uncover basic laws of perception. Modern applications of computer-generated pseudorandom stimuli (random dot arrays or stochastic noise) would have been embraced by Hermann Rorschach as he appreciated the impact of visual noise for the study of vision and visual cognition.

Evidências de validade para Zulliger utilizando a aplicação R-otimizada / Validity evidence for Zulliger using the R-optimized application

A aplicação R-otimizada foi idealizada para o Método de Rorschach no sistema R-PAS. Esta aplicação visa diminuir a variabilidade do número de respostas entre as pessoas, aumentando a fidedignidade dos dados normativos. Devido à similaridade entre Zulliger e Rorschach, o objetivo deste estudo é buscar evidências de validade para aplicação R-otimizada no Zulliger. A amostra deste estudo foi composta por 41 sujeitos. A aplicação dos Métodos de Zulliger e Rorschach foi realizada de forma alternada, para minimizar os efeitos que um poderia causar sob o outro. Dos protocolos aplicados, 25% foram recodificados por juízes independentes com resultados de precisão entre avaliadores considerados adequados para prosseguir com as análises. Foi realizada a correlação entre as porcentagens dos códigos nos dois instrumentos e os resultados foram considerados satisfatórios com alguns códigos apresentando melhora nas associações quando comparado à literatura demonstrando, assim, evidência de validade para o Zulliger aplicação R-otimizada.

Hermann Rorschach's (1884-1922) Clinical and Scientific Work as a Psychiatrist in Russia.

ABSTRACT: This year marks the 100th anniversary of the death of the Swiss psychiatrist Hermann Rorschach, the famous creator of an inkblot projective test. This article examines an insufficiently studied period of Rorschach's work in Russia in 1913-1914 and aims to reconstruct his clinical and scientific activities at that time. Rorschach worked in the psychoneurological sanatorium in Kryukovo near Moscow where he treated his patients with psychotherapy. During that period, he came in contact with leading psychiatrists and became a part of the Russian psychoanalytic community. Case histories of Rorschach's patients did not reveal any original approaches in his psychotherapeutic methods. Despite his lack of time for scientific work, he still coedited one of the leading psychiatry journals in Russia, Issues of Psychiatry and Neuropathology , where he published an article on the organization of services for mental health in Switzerland. Moreover, he contributed to the transfer of knowledge by publishing reviews of his Russian colleagues' works in German journals.

The effect of administration skills on Rorschach protocols.

Although the Rorschach is the most widely studied and used non self-report measure to assess personality, no empirical studies have been carried out to investigate what level of expertise is needed to properly collect valid Rorschach protocols. The aim of the current study was to explore, using a within-subject design, the effect of training on proficiency in administering the Rorschach, specifically a) what kind of errors are associated with different levels of training, and b) what level of expertise guarantees a sufficiently effective Rorschach administration. The second (T1), the fifth (T2) and the tenth (T3) Rorschach protocols collected by 50 licensed psychologists attending a Rorschach training course were examined to explore what kind of mistakes were made at the different stages of training. In the Response phase, examiners collected more simplistic protocols and made more errors at T1, while they showed satisfactory proficiency at T2. Regarding the Inquiry Phase, the most relevant finding was that at T1 examiners made both errors of omission and commission, while at T2 they no longer made errors of omission but they did make more errors of commission, likely as a temporary effect of the training. At T3 a sufficiently effective Rorschach administration was carried out. Findings suggest that a 100-h Rorschach training course and 10 administrations as practicum, each followed by individual feedback and group discussion, might be sufficient to guarantee sufficiently effective Rorschach administration skills.

Rorschach Performance Assessment System (R-PAS) Interrater Reliability in a Brazilian Adolescent Sample and Comparisons With Three Other Studies.

We examine interrater reliability for scoring the Rorschach Performance Assessment System (R-PAS) in a sample of 89 adolescents (MAge = 13.2, SD = 1.01) from Brazil using exact agreement intraclass correlations coefficient (ICCs) for the 60 protocol-level scores that are the focus of interpretation. The first author completed or reviewed all of the primary coding, and seven R-PAS proficient psychologists trained at different sites independently produced secondary coding. Overall, excellent agreement was found (M ICC = 0.89; SD = 0.09). When averaged across this study and three other comparison studies, stronger reliability was present, in general, for commonly coded variables (M = 0.87) as opposed to rare or infrequent variables (M = 0.78). In addition, 78.3% of the variables showed excellent interrater reliability and an additional 20.0% had good reliability. The results also showed that the ICCs for most variables had low variability across studies, suggesting clear coding guidelines. However, variables with higher ICC variability across studies indicated domains where it would be desirable to expand guidelines with more detailed parameters. Overall, the findings indicate excellent interrater reliability for the great majority of codes and present solid grounds for future research on interrater reliability with R-PAS.

Psychopathy and stress in child and adolescent's sexual offender / Psicopatia e estresse em autores de violência sexual contra crianças e adolescentes / Psicopatía y estrés en agresores sexuales de niños y adolescentes

The aim of this article was to investigate whether child and adolescent's sexual offender (SO), with and without psychopathy, differ in relation to their ability to manage stress and distress. Thirty prisoners serving time in jail for sexual crimes against children and adolescents participated in the study, which was divided into two groups: G1 SO considered without psychopathy (N = 20; PCL-R <30); and G2 SO with psychopathy (N = 10; PCL-R ≥ 30). The instruments used were: a protocol for collecting information on criminal proceedings; the Rorschach test according to the Performance Assessment System (R-PAS), considering the variables of the stress and distress domain, and the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R). The data were analyzed using Student's t-test and linear regression analysis. The results showed that 16% of psychopathy in SO was explained by a lower level of stress and distress. (AU)

O objetivo deste artigo foi investigar se Autores de Violência Sexual (AVS) contra crianças e adolescentes, com e sem psicopatia, se diferenciam em relação à capacidade de administrar o estresse e distresse. Participaram do estudo 30 reeducandos cumprindo pena em regime fechado por crimes sexuais contra crianças e adolescentes, divididos em dois grupos: G1 AVS considerados sem psicopatia (N = 20; PCL-R < 30); e G2 AVS com psicopatia (N = 10; PCL-R ≥ 30). Os instrumentos utilizados foram: um protocolo de coleta de informações no processo criminal; o teste de Rorschach de acordo com o Sistema de Avaliação por Performance (R-PAS), considerando as variáveis do domínio de estresse e distresse, e o Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R). Os dados foram analisados por meio do teste t de student e análise de regressão linear. Os resultados evidenciaram que 16% da psicopatia em AVS foi explicada por menor nível de estresse e distresse. (AU)

Este artículo investiga si agresores sexuales (AS) de niños y adolescente, con y sin psicopatía, se diferencian en relación a la capacidad de administrar el estrés y el distrés. Participaron 30 reeducandos cumpliendo pena en régimen cerrado por crímenes sexuales contra niños y adolescentes, divididos en dos grupos: G1 AS considerados sin psicopatía (N = 20; PCL-R < 30); y G2 AS con psicopatía (N = 10; PCL-R ≥ 30). Instrumentos utilizados: protocolo de colecta de informaciones en el proceso criminal; test de Rorschach conforme el Sistema de Evaluación por Performance (R-PAS), considerando las variables del dominio de estrés y distrés y Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R). Los datos fueron analizados según el test t de student y AS fueron por menor nivel de estrés y distrés. (AU)

Traumatized Refugees in Psychotherapy: Long-Term Changes in Personality, Mental Health, Well-Being, and Exile Life Functioning.

ABSTRACT: This pre- and posttreatment study of 22 severely traumatized adult refugees spanned a mean of 6.5 years. Changes in personality functioning, mental health, and well-being were examined using the Rorschach Performance Assessment System, Harvard Trauma Questionnaire, Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25, and the World Health Organization's Quality of Life-BREF questionnaire. A paired samples t-test revealed significant improvement after psychotherapy in traumatic ideation and initial severe disruptions in thought processes, reality testing, perception, self and other representations, and relational capacity (Cohen's d = 0.46-0.59). Symptoms of anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress were significantly reduced (d = 0.54-0.84), quality of life in the physical health and psychological health domains increased significantly (d = 0.87 and 0.97), and percentage of participants with exile language proficiency and work/study status increased significantly. The findings demonstrate the potential of psychotherapy to contribute to normalizing perceptual, cognitive, and relational capacities in severely traumatized refugees, paramount to well-being and functioning in exile.

A performance-based measure of emotion response control: A preliminary MRI study.

Identifying performance-based assessments of emotion regulation is needed for the study of myriad mood and neurological disorders. Color and form responses on the Rorschach Inkblot Method are valid measures of emotion response control, but have not been studied in relation to known neural correlations of emotion regulation. A discrepancy of color (CF + C) greater than form (FC) responses suggests low cognitive control over emotional responses. This preliminary report explores the discrepancy between form-color responses as a correlate of regional cortical thickness. A sample of community-dwelling adults were administered the Rorschach Inkblot Method and participated in a structural MRI scan. Greater middle frontal cortex thickness was associated with a positive discrepancy score [(CF + C) - FC], indicating less emotion response control (rs  = 0.48, p < 0.05); a moderate, non-significant correlation was also observed with insula cortex (rs  = 0.42, p = 0.07).The results provide evidence in support of the Rorschach Inkblot Method as a valid behavioral measure of emotion response control. More specifically, these results support the use of color-related variables included in contemporary evidence-based Rorschach methods. The results are discussed with implications for the study of emotion regulation in mood disorders and sensitivity analyses based on the observed effect sizes are reported to inform future study planning.

Does the Rorschach Performance Assessment System (R-PAS) Differ from the Comprehensive System (CS) on Variables Relevant to Interpretation?

We examined the impact of the changes in administration and coding introduced by the Rorschach Performance Assessment System (R-PAS) relative to the Comprehensive System (CS) on the Rorschach response process, as manifested in variables relevant to interpretation. We also examined the efficiency of each system to obtain protocols in an optimal range of responses (R) for interpretation. As hypothesized, when comparing 50 CS and 50 R-PAS nonpatient protocols, R-PAS produced many more protocols in the optimal R range (18-27) than the CS (78% vs. 24%) and it eliminated the need for re-administration, which was required for five CS protocols. As expected, R was less variable with R-PAS, as were two variables derived from it, R8910% and Complexity. In addition, as expected because of different Form Quality tables, R-PAS showed notably fewer and less variable perceptual distortions than the CS, and an increase in more conventional perceptions. The other 58 variables showed no reliable differences in means or standard deviations, though modest power precluded definitive inferences about equivalence. Overall, our results support previous findings about the benefit of R-PAS to obtain protocols in an optimal range for interpretation, while keeping the core manifestations of the response process unchanged.

Complexity and Cognitive Engagement in the Rorschach Task: An fMRI Study.

Recently, an eye-tracking study found that Complexity and other R-PAS variables located in the Engagement and Cognitive Processing domain correlated with a proxy marker for cognitive effort and engagement. The goal of the current study was to test the robustness and validity of those eye-tracking findings by inspecting fMRI data. We hypothesized that the greater the level of engagement and cognitive effort put in place by a Rorschach test-taker, the greater the engagement of his/her cortical areas reflecting ongoing top-down attentional processes should be. We re-analyzed archival fMRI data from 26 healthy participants exposed to the Rorschach inkblots with the instruction to think of what they might be. The association of various Engagement and Cognitive Processing R-PAS scores to increased BOLD signals in the Dorsal Attention Network of the brain was examined. As expected, Complexity showed the strongest effect size across all R-PAS variables under investigation (d = 0.43), followed by Synthesis (d = 0.32) and Human Movement (d = 0.21). Noteworthy, the correlation between the effect sizes found in the current fMRI study and those found in the previously published eye-tracking study consists of an impressive r = .80.

Personality Impairment in Children and Adolescents with ADHD / Comprometimento da Personalidade em Crianças e Adolescentes com TDAH / Deterioro de la Personalidad en Niños y Adolescentes con TDAH

Abstract Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents manifests itself in a heterogeneous manner as regards personality aspects. This study aimed to evaluate, by using the Ego Impairment Index, the personality functioning characteristics of children and adolescents between 9 and 15 years old (to be completed), diagnosed with the disorder (clinical group) and compare them with a non-clinical group. The groups included 42 participants each. The Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children - Present and Lifetime version was used for diagnosis, and the Rorschach Performance Assessment System (R-PAS) was utilized for personality traits. When compared to their peers, the participants in the clinical group showed ability to discern adaptive behaviors through proper judgment, difficulty in keeping thinking and reasoning processes stable, a negative view of themselves and others, in addition to difficulty in establishing cooperative relationships.

Resumo O transtorno da falta de atenção com hiperatividade em crianças e adolescentes manifesta-se de forma heterogênea com relação aos aspectos de personalidade. O presente estudo teve por objetivo avaliar, por meio do Índice de Enfraquecimento do Ego, características do funcionamento da personalidade de crianças e adolescentes, entre 9 e 15 anos incompletos, com o diagnóstico do transtorno (grupo clínico) e compará-las com um grupo não-clínico. Os grupos contemplaram 42 participantes cada. Utilizou-se para o diagnóstico a entrevista Kiddie-Sads Referente ao Momento Presente e ao Longo da Vida, e o Sistema de Avaliação por Performance no Rorschach (R-PAS) para as características de personalidade. Os participantes do grupo clínico, quando comparados com seus pares, mostraram capacidade de discernir comportamentos adaptativos por meio de julgamento adequado, dificuldade em manter estáveis os processos de pensamento e raciocínio, visão negativa de si próprios e dos demais, dificuldade para estabelecer relacionamentos cooperativos.

Resumen El trastorno por déficit de atención con hiperactividad es uno de los más encontrados entre las patologías infantiles y se manifiesta de forma no homogénea con relación a los aspectos de personalidad. Este estudio comparó a través de lo Índice de Enflaquecimiento del Ego características de personalidad de niños y adolescentes entre 9 y 15 años incompletos con diagnóstico con un grupo de mismo sexo y edad sin diagnóstico. Cada grupo estaba compuesto por 42 participantes. Se utilizó la entrevista Kiddie-Sads sobre el momento presente y al largo de la vida para el diagnóstico y el Sistema de Evaluación por Performance en el Rorschach (R-PAS), para las características de personalidad. El grupo clínico mostró capacidad para discernir conductas adaptativas a través del juicio adecuado, dificultad para mantener estables los procesos de pensamiento y razonamiento, visión negativa de sí mismos y de los demás, dificultad para establecer relaciones de cooperación.