Assessment of the Therapeutic Evolution of Psychiatric Patients through Rorschach Psychodiagnosis

Patrícia Costa,Cláudia Milheiro,Sónia Remondes‐Costa

doi:10.1590/0102.3772e37407

Abstract

Abstract The present work aims to constitute an important contribution to the scientific proof of the effectiveness of psychiatric and psychotherapeutic interventions, through the Rorschach test. A clinical sample of 10 psychiatric patients, admitted and followed at the Day Hospital of a psychiatric hospital in the North of Portugal, where the psychoanalytic orientation intervention model is followed. The data were collected in two moments: upon admission, a sociodemographic and clinical questionnaire and Rorschach's projective proof were applied; after three months of treatment, Rorschach was re-applied, followed by a survey of exclusion criteria and patient evaluation on the therapeutic program.The comparative analysis of the data showed a slight therapeutic evolution and personality functioning.

Highlights

The present work aims to constitute an important contribution to the scientific proof of the effectiveness of psychiatric and psychotherapeutic interventions, through the Rorschach test
It differs from others that found a predominance of males (Dalgalarrondo et al, 2003; Melo & Guimarães, 2005). This situation may be explained by the fact that the Day Hospital does not admit patients with alcohol and drug use or abuse disorders, having a decrease in the admission of males, since this disorder predominantly affects male individuals (Bruffaerts et al, 2004)
With regard to marital status, most participants were married or living in a consensual union, which was not consistent with the results of previous studies, which indicate that the prevalence of mental disorders is more associated with single individuals (Lima et al, 2014; Silva et al, 2015)

Summary

Introduction

The present work aims to constitute an important contribution to the scientific proof of the effectiveness of psychiatric and psychotherapeutic interventions, through the Rorschach test. The clinical profile of patients with mental disorders highlights that the first diagnosis is usually made during adolescence, a period characterised by body changes, mainly related to sexual development, personality consolidation and social transformations, which include a moment of internal preparation for adulthood. At this stage, an identity crisis may occur, which is considered normal, but it may interfere with the onset of a mental disorder in adulthood if it is not timely and properly managed (Oliveira & Laus, 2011; Silva et al, 2015). Costa and Ludermir (2005) argue that significant life events act as stressors by causing changes in the endocrine system, making the development of diseases, including mental disorders, more vulnerable

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