Rorschach Structure of a Hospitalized Sample of Vietnam Veterans With PTSD

Abstract

Rorschach structural summary data are presented for a group of 41 posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) patients who were being treated in a specialized inpatient PTSD treatment program. Results suggest that patients suffering from PTSD exhibit impaired reality-testing abilities and tend to utilize ineffective coping strategies. The group's structural summary factors are presented as incipient normative data for the Exner Comprehensive System on patients with PTSD. Implications that these protocols suggest a more severe and pervasive level of psychopathology than would be expected from theoretical descriptions of the disorder are discussed.

Rorschach patterns of response in Vietnam veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder versus combat and normal controls

“…As predicted, Rorschach indicators of the PTSD subjects (D, Adj D, m, Y, FC, CF, C, Afr, X+%, F+%, Xu%, X-%, H, MOR, FC:CF + C, and EB) deviated from the nonpatient norms published by Exner [Exner, 1993]. The means for our group deviate from nonpatient adult male norms in identical directions and with similar magnitudes as those of previously studied PTSD samples [e.g., Hartman et al, 1990] (see Table 4). Furthermore, between-study comparisons reveal that the present sample does not differ from that of Hartman et al [1990] on any of 15 indicators examined.…”

“…To compare groups on variables which are nominal (EB) or ordinal (FC:CF + C), likelihood ratio chi squares were used. To compare the results of our study with those of Exner's [1993] nonpatient sample and those of a PTSD study conducted by Hartman et al [1990], we used pooled variance t tests or chi squares, depending on data type.…”

Personality and PTSD II: Personality assessment of PTSD-diagnosed Vietnam veterans using the Cloninger Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire (TPQ)

“…Recent research by Richman and Frueh (1996) found that PTSD-diagnosed Vietnam veterans self-reported high levels of Cluster A symptomatology (paranoid, schizoid, and schizotypal), borderline symptomatology, and avoidant symptomatology when compared with outpatients with primary diagnoses of (1) anxiety disorders other than PTSD and (2) major depressive disorder. Utilizing a "projective" approach, Frueh et al (1995) and Hartman et al (1990) found evidence of significant character pathology utilizing the Rorschach. Taken together, these studies point to high levels of personality disturbance in this population, especially in the avoidant, passive-aggressive, schizoid, borderline, and antisocial categories.…”

Assessing Effects of National Trauma on Adaptive Functioning of Mentally Healthy Adults: An Exploratory Rorschach Study

“…Several studies showed that a high percentage of traumatized people present D and AdjD scores that are below the cutoff point of 0, presumed to indicate incapacity to minimize situational and chronic distress respecttively. Lowered D and AdjD have consistently been found among veterans from Vietnam or those who served at the Gulf War, and were significantly different from those found in a control group of soldiers who did not participate in war (Hartman et al, 1990;Levin, 1993;Sloan et al, 1995). These findings demonstrate how coping is undetermined by the acute and chronic management of intrusive thoughts and sense of helplessness that constitute substantial factors in traumatic experience (Wilson & Keane, 1997).…”

“…However, there has been growing empirical evidence that point out the Rorschach Inkblot Method (Rorschach, 1921) as a valid tool that might be very useful for clarifying psychological experiences in both children and adult traumatized patients (Armstrong & Loewenstein, 1990;Brand, Armstrong, & Loewenstein, 2006;Brand, Armstrong, Loewenstein, & McNary, 2009;Carlson & Armstrong, 1994;Clinton, & Jenkins-Monroe, 1994;Goldfinger, Amdur, & Liberzon, 1998;Hartman et al, 1990;Holaday, 2000;Leavitt & Labott, 1998;Lerner, 1998;Sloan, Arseault, Hilsenroth, Harvill, & Handler, 1995;Steinberg, 1996;Swanson, Blount, & Bruno,1990;Viglione, 1990;Zeligman, Smith, & Tibon, 2011).…”