PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M W Acklin

Publications and source records attributed to M W Acklin.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Interobserver agreement, intraobserver reliability, and the Rorschach Comprehensive System.

Interrater agreement and reliability for the Rorschach have recently come under increasing scrutiny. This is the second report examining methods of Comprehensive System reliability using principles derived from observational methodology and applied behavioral analysis. This study examined a previous nonpatient sample of 20 protocols (N = 412 responses) and also examined a new clinical sample of 20 protocols (N = 374 responses) diagnosed with Research Diagnostic Criteria. Reliability was analyzed at multiple levels of Comprehensive System data, including response-level individual codes and coding decisions and ratios, percentages, and derivations from the Structural Summary. With a number of exceptions, most Comprehensive System codes, coding decisions, and summary scores yield acceptable, and in many instances excellent, levels of reliability. Limitations arising from the nature of Rorschach data and Comprehensive System coding criteria are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Behavioral science foundations of the Rorschach test: research and clinical applications.

Never without its critics, the Rorschach Test continues to be widely used in clinical settings. The test continues to be criticized vigorously. Rorschach critics appear to fall into two broad groups: those leveling valid methodological concerns about the test s behavioral science foundations and method critics who appear to deny the validity of the test on strictly a priori or theoretical considerations. Many critics do not appear to be acquainted with the extensive Rorschach research literature. The current paper provides an overview of several domains of applied and laboratory Rorschach behavioral science, including statistical power analysis, interobserver agreement and interrater reliability, Rorschach assessment of thought disorder, and emerging research linking Rorschach variables with diagnostic criteria from the DSM-IV, as a means of educating both adherents and detractors alike concerning the test s scientific track record and applicability to clinical assessment.

Behavioral Sciences↗
PubMed1996

Standardizing procedures for calculating rorschach interrater reliability: conceptual and empirical foundations.

Although the Rorschach test has demonstrated significant refinements in reliability, validity, and statistical power as a result of the procedural standardization and scoring innovations introduced by Exner's Comprehensive System, the issue of Rorschach interrater reliability remains unexplored. This article examines the psychometric foundations of Rorschach interrater reliability and applies notions from applied behavioral analysis to the treatment of Rorschach data. We empirically compare 3 methods of quantifying interrater agreement, their accuracy in estimating interrater agreement, and efficiency in reducing error in Rorschach research. Results indicate that the magnitude of differences between methods of quantifying interrater agreement and the associated reductions of error are significant. We propose a standard method for quantifying interrater agreement in Rorschach research.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Contributions of cognitive science to the Rorschach Technique: cognitive and neuropsychological correlates of the response process.

This article presents an understanding of the Rorschach Technique in terms of emergent models from cognitive science. We propose a linkage between cognitive psychology and neuropsychology in understanding the operations that underlie the Rorschach response process. Contemporary information processing models are described. The Rorschach Technique is conceived of as a complex process involving all areas of the cerebral hemispheres, encompassing various aspects of visual attention and perception, object recognition, associative memory, language production, and executive functioning. Exner's model of the response process is delineated, including both Association and Inquiry phases, in terms of requisite underlying neuropsychological abilities and anatomical substrates. The question of the Rorschach Technique's status, utility, and potential as a neuropsychological assessment, tool is discussed. Understanding the Rorschach in terms of contemporary cognitive psychological and neuropsychological models heightens appreciation of the technique's complexity and provides a heuristic and conceptual foundation for empirical research.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1995

Rorschach assessment of the borderline child.

After nearly two decades of intensive investigation, adult borderline disorders have achieved wide currency, including a substantial psychological literature. The literature on the diagnostic psychological assessment of borderline children is, in contrast, quite sparse. This paper examines manifestations of childhood borderline conditions on the Rorschach, discusses them in light of current theoretical conceptualizations of adult borderline psychopathology, and explores the relationship between child and adult borderline disorders and the genesis of these conditions.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Alexithymia in panic disorder and simple phobia: a comparative study.

The authors found that 14 (46.7%) of 30 patients with panic disorder had alexithymia, compared with four (12.5%) of 32 patients with simple phobia. Consistent with the conceptualization of alexithymia as a psychological deficit affecting emotion regulation, the patients with panic disorder had significantly less ego strength and independence and significantly higher levels of anxiety and somatic complaints than the patients with simple phobia.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Integrating the Rorschach and the MMPI in clinical assessment: conceptual and methodological issues.

The Rorschach and Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) are among the most widely used personality assessment tools. However, there is little guidance in the literature about their combined use. In this article, I discuss conceptual and methodological issue of combining these widely used psychological tests, including the use of the test battery and the necessity of rationales for test utilization. Methodological approaches to integrating the test findings are discussed, including score, construct, test by test, and theory-based integrative approaches. The value of a person-centered interpretive and integrative focus is affirmed.

Humans↗
PubMed1993

Psychodiagnosis of personality structure. II: Borderline personality organization.

The borderline conditions have been the focus of considerable debate and controversy for over 30 years. This article, second in a series of three articles focusing on Kernberg's (1975, 1984) psychostructural diagnosis of personality organization, examines Rorschach contributions to the description and diagnosis of borderline personality organization. Rorschach approaches integrating nomothetic and idiographic data are applied to borderline personality functioning and appraised in light of the Rorschach's contribution to the clarification of the controversial and poorly delineated borderline diagnosis.

Borderline Personality Disorder↗
PubMed1993

Piotrowski's enduring contributions to the Rorschach: a review of Perceptanalysis.

Zygmunt A. Piotrowski (1904-1985), one of the early pioneers with the Rorschach technique, developed a method for Rorschach analysis described in the text, Perceptanalysis. Based on clinical, teaching, research, and supervisory experiences, the author selected three aspects of the text for review for their enduring contributions to clinical personality analysis. The three areas are: (a) the scientific and philosophical framework of the system; (b) the Human Movement response, M; and (c) the shading responses--light shading, c'R, and dark shading, c'R. The reader is also introduced to other works by Piotrowski, including scales for cerebral dysfunction and schizophrenia.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1992

Alexithymia and somatic complaints in psychiatric out-patients.

This study investigated the prevalence of alexithymia and its relationship with somatic complaints in a sample of 118 general psychiatric out-patients. Of the sample 39.8% scored in the alexithymic range of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale. Compared with the non-alexithymic patients, the alexithymic patients scored significantly higher on several Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) scales that collectively measure a diverse and extensive range of somatic symptoms and bodily concerns. In addition, the alexithymic patients had significantly higher levels of anxiety, depression, and general psychological turmoil. Although the alexithymic and non-alexithymic patients did not differ on the MMPI Repression and overall Hysteria Scales, which reflect the defenses of denial and repression, the alexithymic patients had significantly less ego strength and were significantly more dependent and more likely to engage in impulsive and acting out behaviours. The overall pattern of results is consistent with the view that alexithymic individuals are prone to both 'functional' somatic symptoms and symptoms of emotional turmoil because they are not well equipped psychologically.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Psychodiagnosis of personality structure: psychotic personality organization.

Recent developments in Rorschach psychology, including nomothetic approaches focused on scores, ratios, and indices and idiographic approaches focused on content emerging from psychoanalytic theory, offer the Rorschach clinician a rich and potent interpretive methodology. This article examines the structural diagnosis of personality organization with a focus on psychotic personality structure. Rorschach approaches to the differential diagnosis of psychotic personality organization are presented. The Rorschach is viewed as indispensible in the differential diagnosis of personality organization, especially in the so-called "borderline" cases.

Humans↗
PubMed1992

Statistical power and the Rorschach: 1975-1991.

The Rorschach Inkblot Test has been the source of long-standing controversies as to its nature and its psychometric properties. Consistent with behavioral science research in general, the concept of statistical power has been entirely ignored by Rorschach researchers. The concept of power is introduced and discussed, and a power survey of the Rorschach literature published between 1975 and 1991 in the Journal of Personality Assessment, Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, Journal of Abnormal Psychology, Journal of Clinical Psychology, Journal of Personality, Psychological Bulletin, American Journal of Psychiatry, and Journal of Personality and Social Psychology was undertaken. Power was calculated for 2,300 statistical tests in 158 journal articles. Power to detect small, medium, and large effect sizes was .13, .56, and .85, respectively. Similar to the findings in other power surveys conducted on behavioral science research, we concluded that Rorschach research is underpowered to detect the differences under investigation. This undoubtedly contributes to the inconsistency of research findings which has been a source of controversy and criticism over the decades. It appears that research conducted according to the Comprehensive System for the Rorschach is more powerful. Recommendations are offered for improving power and strengthening the design sensitivity of Rorschach research, including increasing sample sizes, use of parametric statistics, reduction of error variance, more accurate reporting of findings, and editorial policies reflecting concern about the magnitude of relationships beyond an exclusive focus on levels of statistical significance.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1991

Early memories as expressions of relationship paradigms: a preliminary investigation.

Earliest childhood memories (EMs) have been utilized as expressions of relationship paradigms, but few empirical studies have been conducted. This study outlines the construction and development of an EM relationship scoring system and scale utilizing nonclinical and clinical samples. It was hypothesized that relationship episodes could be reliably coded using EMs and that they would demonstrate convergent validity with measures of attachment style (Separation-Individuation Test of Adolescence), mood (Profile of Mood States), and clinical symptomatology (Symptom Checklist 90-revised [SCL-90-R] and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory [MMPI]). The hypotheses received broad support. Findings indicate that relationship episodes may be reliably coded from EMs. Associations between individual EM variables, the EM relationship scale, and objective measures suggest that the quality of relationships expressed in EMs is associated with degree of general maladjustment. Suggestions for further research are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Personality dimensions in two types of learning-disabled children: a Rorschach study.

Children referred for psychoeducational assessment of learning disabilities (LDs) commonly receive the Rorschach test. yet little is known about the impact of LD on Rorschach response patterns. This study investigated Rorschach response patterns in two groups of 9- to 12-year-old children (n = 41) classified by their respective intellectual abilities. Another group of 9- to 12-year-olds (n = 143) served as a nonclinical comparison group. Rorschach variables indicative of personality dimensions failed to discriminate between the two LD groups. Compared to the nonclinical group, the LD group exhibited several Rorschach characteristics--including problems in perceptual accuracy, inefficient visual scanning and problem-solving strategies, and avoidance of affect-laden stimuli--having implications for successful socioemotional adaptation. Suggestions for further research are discussed.

Adaptation, Psychological↗