I examined Rorschach assessment of personality changes following psychotherapy. I conducted a comprehensive literature search to find all studies using the Rorschach method at least twice for the same participant in connection with psychotherapy. I conducted meta-analyses for 38 samples, and I performed regression analyses to identify moderating factors. Across all Rorschach scores, the total weighted sample effect size was r = .26, and nearly half the variables obtained effect sizes higher than .30. Several moderating factors were found. Most important, effect sizes increased with longer and more intensive therapy. More concern for interscorer reliability was associated with larger effect sizes, whereas a higher degree of scorer blinding was associated with smaller effect size magnitudes. Predicted levels of change based on the regression models indicated substantial increases in effect size with longer therapies. The data indicate that many elements in the Rorschach are valid indicators of change despite the poor reputation the method has acquired within psychotherapy research.

The temporal stabilities of the Rorschach method scoring systems were investigated. A comprehensive literature search was conducted to find all test-retest studies, both regular and from control samples in therapy evaluation studies. Meta-analyses were conducted for samples, individual entries, and variables in 36 samples. Separate analyses were made for 10 samples using the Comprehensive System (CS; Exner, 1993). The temporal stability was high, especially those obtained from regression model predictions. The CS consistently shows higher stability than other systems, whereas increasing retest intervals leads to decreasing stability. Shortcomings of the available studies are highlighted and discussed, and recommendations are given for design and methodology.

We examined discriminant and convergent validity of theoretically relevant Rorschach Comprehensive System (CS) variables (Exner, 2003) and Meloy and Gacono's (1992) aggression variables in distinguishing between imprisoned violent offenders (VO) who were psychopathic (P-VO) and nonpsychopathic (NP-VO) under psychiatric treatment, schizophrenic inpatients (ISs), and university students (USs). A total of 7 of 12 variables discriminated significantly between P-VO and NP-VO, which suggests more aggressive, cognitive, and interpersonal disturbances among P-VO. We also found significant differences between VOs, ISs, and USs. Logistic regression analyses revealed that AgPast accumulated incrementally in the classification of P-VO versus NP-VO, and AgC accumulated incrementally in the classification of VO versus IS when entered after CS variables. The findings support the view that psychopathy is a distinctive form of antisocial personality disorder (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; American Psychiatric Association, 1994) organized at a more severe pathological level.

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We tested 140 male candidates at the Naval Special Forces (NFS) of Norway on the Rorschach (Exner, 2003; Rorschach, 1921/1942) and the Norwegian version of the Big Five personality dimensions (Engvik & Føllesdal, 2005). Rorschach variables significantly correlated with training completion (effect sizes of r(e) = .14-.25), whereas none of the Big Five factors or facets did. The combination of Rorschach and Big Five variables framed in the illusory mental health concept provided strong predictive ability. Testing under stress produced slightly higher predictive validity coefficients between the Rorschach variables and pass-fail than under calm testing. The findings support the results of Hartmann, Sunde, Kristensen, and Martinussen (2003), indicating that Rorschach variables and indications of good mental health may be valid predictors of NFS training.

Numerous meta-analyses and reviews have been conducted on the effectiveness of psychological treatment of sexual offenders in reducing recidivism, but no meta-analysis has been done on sexual offenders against children (SOAC) specifically. A moderate treatment effect has been shown in several evaluations of general sexual offenders, while many scholars maintain that the question remains unanswered until an adequate number of effectiveness studies with a strong research design have been carried out. In this meta-analysis, we evaluated 14 studies selected and coded according to Collaborative Outcome Data Committee (CODC) criteria. They included 1,421 adult offenders in psychotherapy and 1,509 nontreated controls, with a minimum average follow-up period of 3 years, published in peer-reviewed journals in 1980 or later. Recidivism was defined as rearrest or reconviction. Study quality was classified into strong, good, weak or rejected. The analysis revealed a treatment effect size of r = .03 for nine studies evaluated as Good or Weak, while all studies yielded an effect size of r = .08, including five studies classified as Rejected. The results show that the available research cannot establish any effect of treatment on SOAC. Despite a large amount of research, only a tiny fraction of studies meet a minimum of scientific standards, and even fewer provide sensible and useful data from which it is possible to draw conclusions.

Objectives: To explore the course of psychotropic drug (PTD) prescription from admission (BL) to 6-month follow-up (6m) in Norwegian nursing homes (NHs). To examine how clinical variables, such as neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS), cognition, physical health, and NH characteristics at BL are associated with prescription rates at 6 months. Design: An observational longitudinal cohort study (data from the Resource Use and Disease Course in DementiaeNursing Home study) designed to examine the course of dementia, psychiatric and somatic diseases, and drug prescriptions in NH patients during the first 6 months after admission. Setting and Participants: We included 696 patients at admission to 47 representative Norwegian NHs. Methods: Demographic and clinical characteristics at BL and 6m are presented. Dementia severity was assessed by the Clinical Dementia Rating scale and the Functional Assessment Staging of Alzheimer's Disease scale. Final diagnosis was made by 2 of the authors (G.S. and S.B.) according to ICD-10 criteria. Prevalence, incidence, and persistence rates of PTD prescriptions for people with dementia are presented. Generalized mixed models were used to identify possible predictors for the course of PTD prescription from BL to 6m. Results: Prescription rates of antidepressants, antipsychotics, anxiolytics, sedatives, and hypnotics increased in people with dementia from BL (67.5% received at least 1 PTD) to 6m (74.0% received at least 1 PTD). Younger age and higher Neuropsychiatric Inventoryeaffective subsyndrome score at BL were associated with higher odds of antidepressant prescription, whereas patients with higher comorbidity at BL had lower odds of receiving antidepressants, both at BL and 6m. Higher Neuropsychiatric Inventoryaffective subsyndrome scores at BL were associated with higher odds of sedative and hypnotic prescription at both assessment points. Conclusions and implications: PTD prescription rates increase from BL to 6m. Medication appropriateness should be frequently evaluated after admission to optimize PTD prescriptions.

Objective: We report on the validation of the Norwegian version of the Inventory of Problems-29 (IoP-29) using an experimental simulation setup with honest responders and responders feigning depression. Method: The sample consisted of 275 participants recruited by convenience by spreading invitational links to participate in the study on social media. They were randomly assigned to either an experimental simulation or an honest condition with the IoP-29. Participants in both conditions were asked to confirm whether they had followed the instructions or not. The honest respondents (n = 138) were asked to respond to the IoP-29 as honestly as they could, whereas the experimental simulators (n = 137) were told to simulate depression based on a case vignette and descriptions of depressive symptoms. Results: We found that participants in the simulation group scored significantly higher than the control group (d = 2.39, p < .000). We found no significant effects from age, gender, or education on the resulting scores. Area under the curve (AUC) for IoP-29 was .94 (SE = .01), meaning a good ability to separate the two conditions. The cutoff for the IoP-False Disorder Score ≥.50 yielded sensitivity = .77, specificity = .93, positive predictive power = .91, negative predictive power = .81, and an overall correct classification = .85. Conclusions: The Norwegian version of IoP-29 demonstrated good validity in discriminating between experimental simulators of depression and a nonclinical control group. Public Significance StatementOur study shows that the Norwegian translation of Inventory of Problems-29 can effectively discriminate between honest nonclinical responders and feigners of depression. This study marks the first step of the validation of the Norwegian IoP-29 version for clinical use.