A Synthesis of Recent Research on Obesity with the Rorschach and Suggestions for the Future

Abstract

This article reviews recent research made on obesity using the Rorschach (Comprehensive System: CS) as the main assessment procedure. It focuses on the main results of a research program performed by the author within the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden. When we studied Rorschach characteristics related to obesity, patients demonstrated difficulties with emotions and coping with everyday demands. We found that severe obesity was associated with lower mental distress and bodily concern. In experimentations, Rorschach predicted outcomes such as eating behaviors and weight. Larger weight loss in obesity treatments was explained by physical or dependency needs for food. These aspects could be specifically altered by treatment interventions targeting hunger or eating habits. Ego dysfunctions such as distortions in perception of reality predicted smaller weight loss and indicated more profound difficulties in obesity.

Indicadores de Compulsão Alimentar Periódica em Pós-operatório de Cirurgia Bariátrica

“…Não há indicativo científico de um tipo de personalidade ou de transtorno psiquiátrico exclusivo do obeso mórbido, e sim, tipos de funcionamento psicológico que compreendem algumas características comuns a esta população (Marcus & Wildes, 2012) como: psicopatologias comórbidas, estilo de vida (Wedin, et al, 2012), traços de personalidade e temperamento (Valenti, Omizo, & Maledrona, 2011;Vervaet, van Heeringen, & Audenaert, 2004) aspectos relacionados à autoestima (Rojas, et al, 2011;Elfhag, 2010) somados à singularidade de cada indivíduo obeso (Claes, et al, 2006). Apesar de não ser especificada uma dimensão de personalidade única, relacionada à obesidade, diversos estudos trazem diferenças fenotípicas comportamentais entre os tipos de Transtornos Alimentares, entre eles o transtorno de Compulsão Alimentar Periódica (Cassim & von Hanson, 2005).…”

Exploring the Utility of the Rorschach Test in Predicting Weight Loss After Bariatric Surgery

“…To date, there is limited evidence to support the usefulness of this measure in assessing patients seeking obesity treatment, and almost none specifically for BS. However, a few studies suggest that Rorschach variables can provide information about the psychological resources patients dispose to cope with the challenges of obesity treatment (Elfhag, 2010;Elfhag et al, 2003Elfhag et al, , 2004de Almeida Ribeiro et al, 2011;Venzon & Alchieri, 2014).…”