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Related Experiment Videos

Single-sign Rorschach suicide indicators: a validity study using a depressed inpatient population.

A G Hansell1, H D Lerner, R S Milden

  • 1University of Michigan.

Journal of Personality Assessment
|January 1, 1988
PubMed
Summary

Rorschach test signs may indicate a "suicidal personality" rather than immediate suicidal risk. Some signs relate to low risk or past attempts, suggesting personality traits over current danger.

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Area of Science:

  • Psychological assessment
  • Clinical psychology
  • Psychopathology

Background:

  • The Rorschach inkblot test is a projective psychological test.
  • Its utility in assessing current suicidal risk is debated.
  • Specific Rorschach signs have been proposed as indicators of suicidality.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the validity of single Rorschach responses as indicators of current suicidal risk.
  • To examine the relationship between specific Rorschach signs and suicidal ideation and behavior.
  • To differentiate between current suicidal risk and a history of suicide attempts.

Main Methods:

  • Forty-one inpatients diagnosed with depression were administered the Rorschach.
  • A concurrent measure of depression and suicidality was administered.

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  • Specific Rorschach signs (Color-Shading, Transparency) were analyzed in relation to risk and history.

    • Main Results:

    • The Appelbaum and Holzman Color-Shading sign correlated with low suicidal risk.
    • The Blatt and Ritzler Transparency sign was not related to current suicidal risk but to past suicide attempts.
    • Patients exhibiting these signs during depression also showed them upon recovery.

    Conclusions:

    • Rorschach signs may reflect enduring personality traits ('suicidal personality') rather than acute suicidal risk.
    • The Color-Shading sign may indicate a lower likelihood of immediate suicidal danger.
    • The Transparency sign might be associated with a history of suicidal behavior, irrespective of current risk.