Rorschach and MMPI-2 indices of early psychotherapy termination.
This study was an investigation of the differences between 97 patients who had prematurely terminated psychotherapy (M = 1 session) and 81 who had participated in individual psychotherapy for at least 6 months and 24 sessions (M = 18 months/72 sessions) on selected Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory--2 (MMPI-2) and Rorschach variables. None of the between-group comparisons using the MMPI-2 proved to be significant. However, a multivariate analysis of variance of 9 Rorschach variables in 3 conceptual categories--(a) interpersonal relatedness, (b) psychological resources versus resource demand, and (c) level of psychopathology--proved to be significant at p = .008. The Rorschach scores from the interpersonal-relational category proved to be the most robust in differentiating the 2 groups. The theoretical implications of interpersonal variables are discussed in relation to the termination and continuation of patients in psychotherapy.
Department of Psychiatry, Cambridge Hospital, Massachusetts 02138, USA.
M J
MJ
Hilsenroth
L
L
Handler
K M
KM
Toman
J R
JR
Padawer
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008950:MMPI / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D010352:Patient Dropouts / Q000523:psychology*; D011575:Psychoanalytic Therapy; D011594:Psychometrics; D012307:Risk Factors; D012392:Rorschach Test / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*