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Case Studies with the Rorschach Test: A Systematic Literature Review
Aurora Milesi1, Filippo Aschieri1
1Department of Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan, Italy.
Journal of Personality Assessment
|July 1, 2026
Summary
This review synthesizes 50 years of Rorschach case reports, finding increased publication and varied coding system use. Reporting standards and demographic details need improvement for Rorschach assessment research.
Area of Science:
- Psychological assessment
- Clinical psychology
- Psychometrics
Background:
- The Rorschach test is a widely used projective assessment tool.
- Case reports are crucial for understanding the application and nuances of the Rorschach.
- A comprehensive synthesis of Rorschach case reports over the past 50 years is lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and synthesize Rorschach case reports published over the last 50 years.
- To identify trends in publication volume, coding systems, language, journal ranking, and reported demographics.
- To evaluate the Rorschach's use in clinical settings and identify areas for improved reporting.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search of Scopus, PsycInfo, and PubMed databases.
- Manual screening of key Rorschach journals and bibliographies.
- Inclusion of 217 articles published between 1974 and 2025.
Main Results:
- Publication volume of Rorschach case reports has steadily increased.
- Exner's Comprehensive System (CS), School of Paris, and R-PAS were the predominant coding systems.
- CS and R-PAS were primarily published in English, School of Paris in French; R-PAS studies appeared in higher-ranked journals.
- Most reports focused on youth, with rare reporting of ethnicity or cultural background.
- The Rorschach was mainly used in clinical settings, often in multimethod assessments.
Conclusions:
- Rorschach case report research has expanded, with evolving coding systems and publication trends.
- Disparities exist in publication language and journal prestige across different coding systems.
- Future Rorschach research requires enhanced reporting transparency, standardized demographics, and clearer guidelines.
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