Abstract

Aiming at identifying the characteristics of the Rorschach responses demonstrated by a group of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder(PTSD) patients, this study compared them with the Rorschach responses shown by a group of schizophrenia to shed lights on the degree and characteristics of cognitive impairment. The group of PTSD consisted of 23 female patients diagnosed with PTSD from the violence of their spouses while the group of schizophrenia consisted of corresponding 28 females. Rorschach protocols were administered, scored and analysed under adherence to the Exner Comprehensive System(1993). The result of the analysis shows that, in case of the PTSD group, X+% is recorded 56%, and F+% is 47%, which falls short of the result from the schizophrenic groups. Those figures indicate that the PTSD group exhibits impaired reality-tasting abilities. It also turned out that they failed to effectively and economically utilize the resources such as low Lamda, more W response then D, and low Zd. Also high es and Adj es are recorded along with higher-than-normal DEPI and S-Con. The result from t-test compared with the schizophrenic group showed the differences in several variables such as W, Lamda, es, Adj es, Fm, C', X+%, AG, Sum6SC. Having impaired reality-tasting ability, the PTSD groups are related to the failure to control emotional experiences and to keep proper distance from stimulus, while the schizophrenic groups suffer from the distortion in reality perception and problems of cognitive processing. And finally, the limitations and suggestions of future research have been discussed.