Abstract
Partially, in response to recent and current military conflicts, many forensic and clinical researchers and practitioners
have devoted increasing interest to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the individual variations in response to trauma.
Such efforts have produced a considerable amount of research and opinion supporting the assessment of post-traumatic conditions
with the Rorschach Inkblot Test. Based on PTSD and Rorschach research and an appreciation as the Rorschach as a performance
test, five interpretive considerations are presented (1) cognitive constriction, (2) trauma-related imagery, (3) trauma-related
cognitive disturbances, (4) stress response, and (5) dissociation. These five provide a conceptual starting point for the
understanding and application of the test to post-traumatic conditions. Implications for the clinical and forensic evaluation
of post-traumatic conditions and for research are presented.
have devoted increasing interest to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the individual variations in response to trauma.
Such efforts have produced a considerable amount of research and opinion supporting the assessment of post-traumatic conditions
with the Rorschach Inkblot Test. Based on PTSD and Rorschach research and an appreciation as the Rorschach as a performance
test, five interpretive considerations are presented (1) cognitive constriction, (2) trauma-related imagery, (3) trauma-related
cognitive disturbances, (4) stress response, and (5) dissociation. These five provide a conceptual starting point for the
understanding and application of the test to post-traumatic conditions. Implications for the clinical and forensic evaluation
of post-traumatic conditions and for research are presented.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-10
- DOI 10.1007/s12207-012-9128-5
- Authors
- Donald J. Viglione, California School of Professional Psychology, Alliant International University, San Diego, CA, USA
- Benjamin Towns, California School of Professional Psychology, Alliant International University, San Diego, CA, USA
- Dawn Lindshield, California School of Professional Psychology, Alliant International University, San Diego, CA, USA
- Journal Psychological Injury and Law
- Online ISSN 1938-9728
- Print ISSN 1938-971X