Reality testing and Rorschach perceptual regression in female patients

In an effort to study the relationship between severity of psychological disturbances and developmental level scoring of the Rorschach, 43 female psychiatric inpatients were divided into two groups based on whether or not they were displaying behavioral evidence of poor reality testing. As expected, the poor reality testers group produced a significantly greater percentage of responses at the lowest developments level (amorphous responses). The more intact group produced a greater percentage of vague responses, as would be anticipated in patients fending off further regression or emerging from a regressive state. Findings add to the information available on the developmental system's utility within clinical settings and its applicability to female patients.