Rorschach responses in anorectic and nonanorectic women

Abstract

Rorschach responses from two groups of 20 women each, one with and one without anorexia nervosa, were compared in three ways: (1) with standard Rorschach scoring methods; (2) by content of responses; and (3) on structure of responses. Whereas standard scoring methods did not discriminate between the two groups, statistical analyses of the data revealed a significantly higher level of “primary process” material in the Rorschachs of the anorectic patients, both in the content of their records and in their structure. The results of the study suggest the presence of psychopathology of major proportions in a substantial percentage of women with anorexia nervosa.