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A mass of flesh: schizophrenic Rorschach percepts
1Institute of Clinical Medicine and the Institute of Community Medicine, Tsukuba University, Tsukuba-Shu, Japan.
Comprehensive Psychiatry
|November 20, 2002
Summary
Schizophrenic patients often perceive "flesh masses" in Rorschach tests, a finding not seen in healthy adults. This unique percept appears characteristic of both acute and chronic schizophrenia.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- The Rorschach inkblot test is a projective psychological test.
- Schizophrenia is a serious mental disorder characterized by distorted thoughts and perceptions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence of "flesh mass" percepts in Rorschach tests among schizophrenic patients.
- To determine if "flesh mass" percepts are specific to schizophrenia.
Main Methods:
- Developed inclusion and exclusion criteria to identify explicit and implicit "flesh masses" in Rorschach responses.
- Analyzed Rorschach data from 76 chronic schizophrenic patients.
- Examined Rorschach data from patients with acute schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, psychotic mood disorders, and healthy adults, using DSM-IV criteria for diagnosis.
Main Results:
- "Flesh masses" were observed in 75 of 76 chronic schizophrenic patients and all acute schizophrenic patients.
- Only a small number of patients with anxiety or mood disorders perceived "flesh masses".
- No "flesh masses" were reported by normal adults.
Conclusions:
- The perception of "flesh masses" in Rorschach tests is highly characteristic of schizophrenia.
- This finding holds true for both chronic and acute forms of the disorder.
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