title: An exploration of separation-individuation themes in the borderline personality disorder.
abstract: In an attempt to test hypotheses derived from Mahler's theory of borderline development, Rorschach protocols of borderline and schizophrenic patients were studied for the presence of themes related to the separation-individuation process. A specially constructed Separation-Individuation Theme Scale was used with a 96% reliability of agreement between two raters. The borderline group attained more separation-individuation themes than the schizophrenic group, whereas the schizophrenics showed more preseparation-individuation themes. The results were interpreted as a validation of Mahler's theory. In addition, the results tended to confirm a developmental model for the understanding of psychopathology.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001883:Borderline Personality Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007207:Individuation; D008875:Middle Aged; D010553:Personality Development; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D011582:Psychological Theory; D012392:Rorschach Test; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology