Rigidity of construing of self and significant others and psychological disorder

This study was designed to test the hypothesis that more rigid construing of self and others is more common in non-psychotic psychological disorder than in the general population. Thirty-one adult referrals to either a psychiatric day hospital or a clinical psychology service were compared with 31 matched normal controls using a repertory grid. There was no support for the hypothesis, but there was evidence of greater negativity of self-construing in the client group. The implications of these findings for clinical practice are discussed.