Aging and terminal changes in Rorschach responses among the Japanese elderly

The Rorschach Inkblot Test was used to examine how personality changes among the elderly and whether significant changes precede death. Six measurements were conducted over 10 years. The original subjects were 236 healthy Japanese elderly with an average age of 76.4 years; 52 subjects survived throughout the 10-year study. Age-related changes were reflected in the number of responses; responses regarding rejection, shading, and popular; poor form level (F-%); and content range. The changes in these variables suggest that productive and creative thinking, cooperativeness, and concerns for and interests in society lessen with advancing age. Over the 4 to 6 years preceding death, the popular responses and content range declined, and the decline accelerated before death. Tests within 2 years of death showed less animal movement response (FM), and higher form (F%), F-%, and human content (H%) compared to the survivors. These results suggest that productivity, vital energy, and ego strength become reduced prior to death, whereas interest in and sensitivity to others is maintained to the end.