Vulnerability of the self: barrier and penetration scores of depressed patients

Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale measures and percentage of Barrier and Penetration responses on the Holtzman Inkblot Technique were used as indicators of vulnerability of the self during a depressive episode. Sixty-three depressed inpatients grouped according to diagnostic categories and depressive subtypes were evaluated prior to and after three weeks of treatment, and compared with twenty-one normal controls. Patients differed from normals initially and improved on rating measures of severity of illness and depression. Barrier scores did not reflect difference or improvement and, contrary to the predicted vulnerability theory, normals had higher penetration scores than the patients. Results were discussed in terms of vulnerability being a potential sign of emotional responsiveness rather than pathology.