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Results for “Reality Testing”

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At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed2006

Borderline personality organization and dissociation.

The relationship between Kernberg's psychodynamic model of personality organization (PO) and dissociation has not yet been explored. Seventy-two nonclinical subjects and 222 psychiatric patients completed the Dissociative Experiences Scale and the Inventory of Personality Organization. Its Reality Testing subscale emerged as the most important predictor for all facets of dissociation. Discussing our results in the framework of Fonagy and coworkers' model of mentalization, we suggest that dissociation may reflect the preoedipal "pretend" mode of psychic functioning while impaired reality testing and psychotic experiences might be indicative of the "psychic equivalent" mode.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Cognitive neuropsychiatry: conceptual, methodological and philosophical perspectives.

Cognitive neuropsychiatry attempts to understand psychiatric disorders as disturbances to the normal function of human cognitive organisation, and it attempts to link this functional framework to relevant brain structures and their pathology. This recent scientific discipline is the natural extension of cognitive neuroscience into the domain of psychiatry. We present two examples of recent research in cognitive neuropsychiatry: delusions of control in schizophrenia, and affective disorders. The examples demonstrate how the cognitive approach is a fruitful and necessary supplement to the otherwise successful biological psychiatry paradigm, which tend to bypass the cognitive level. Philosophy concerns some of the core concepts involved in psychiatric illness, particularly concerning rationality, thought and action, reality testing, and the self. We present concrete examples that illustrate how philosophical conceptual tools can be particularly important for the construction and interpretation of the cognitive models relevant to the understanding of psychiatric illness. We conclude that cognitive neuropsychiatry is a fruitful and necessary supplement to biological psychiatry. Furthermore, cognitive neuropsychiatry itself may benefit significantly from employing philosophical conceptual tools in the interpretation and construction of its cognitive models. The cognitive and philosophical approaches may thus be further steps towards a scientific psychopathology.

Biological Psychiatry↗
PubMed1994

Loss of reality contact on the Rorschach: a formal analysis.

Based on an analysis of the TRAUT system for scoring autisms, it was concluded that a loss of reality contact on the Rorschach is indicated by responses that do not comply with the demand characteristics of the blots themselves or entail relationships among blot areas counter indicated by the demands of external reality. It was postulated that these same two perceptual/cognitive errors could be used as markers to signal problems with reality testing as they are manifested on other projective techniques.

Humans↗
PubMed2004

Ego functions in relation to stressful life events and indices of psychopathology in paranoid schizophrenia.

This study explored the role of 12 ego functions in relation to Stressful Life Events and three indices of psychopathology, namely, Psychoticism, Anxiety, and Depression among 60 Bengali adult patients suffering from Paranoid Schizophrenia. Adapted versions of Bellak's Ego Function Assessment-M, Eysenck's Personality Questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory, and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory were administered to them. Stepwise multiple regression analyses indicated that Object Relation was associated with all three indices. Scores on Reality Testing correlated with those on Psychoticism, Stressful Life Events and scores on Thought Process with Anxiety, and Stressful Life Events, Sense of Reality, and scores on Defensive Functions with Depression. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses indicated that Object Relation also moderated between stressful life events and anxiety.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Primitive defense mechanisms in schizophrenics and borderline patients.

In this study, patients with neurotic disorders, borderline patients, acute schizophrenics, and chronic schizophrenics were studied with regard to primitive defense mechanisms. Primitive defense mechanisms were assessed by means of the Lerner Defense Scale (LDS). In this study, the LDS was applied to the Holtzman Inkblot Technique. With the exception of primitive idealization, borderline patients used all primitive defense mechanisms significantly more frequently than patients with neurotic disorders, that is, splitting, projective identification, primitive denial, and primitive devaluation. Compared with both acute and chronic schizophrenics, borderline patients used primitive devaluation at a significantly higher degree of frequency. Both acute and chronic schizophrenics differed from patients with neurotic disorders by using splitting and projective identification significantly more frequently. However, there were differences concerning primitive devaluation and idealization. The defense structure of chronic schizophrenics was heterogenous. Except for primitive idealization, all primitive defense mechanisms correlated significantly with self-report measures of identity diffusion and impaired reality testing, which is consistent with theoretical assumptions. By a discriminant analysis, 90% of the borderline patients, 80% of the patients with neurotic disorders, 76% of the acute schizophrenics, and 92% of the chronic schizophrenics were classified correctly.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1998

Getting real in analysis.

A detailed clinical example is used to illustrate how reality testing can create rather than foreclose opportunities for analytic investigation. It is proposed that effective analysis of transference within the treatment relationship requires close and explicit attention to considerations of reality. The author reconsiders certain conceptions of a special psychoanalytic reality, of regression in clinical analysis, and of the nature of free association, suggesting that they tend to discourage the realism necessary to productive psychoanalytic work. He underlines the importance of ongoing reference to therapeutic outcome as an aspect of reality.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Quantification of 'regressive thinking' by use of the Rorschach test. Leading symptom of the borderline syndrome?

In this study we have attempted to objectify the diagnosis of the borderline syndrome by the use of formal Rorschach testing criteria. The randomly selected protocols of 140 subjects between the ages of 17 and 25 were subjected to cluster analysis of currently accepted scoring criteria for such phenomena as prevalence of primary process thinking and disturbance of reality testing. We were unable to demonstrate a cluster of scored responses supposedly typical for the borderline syndrome. Conversely, however, the protocols of patients clinically diagnosed as borderline did show some 'typical' Rorschach signs.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

The WAIS and Rorschach test in diagnosing borderline personality.

This study assesses the degree to which indicators from the Rorschach and the WAIS discriminate between the two groups of psychiatric inpatients diagnosed as having either borderline or psychotic personality organization by means of Kernberg's structural interview. A combination of WAIS scores focusing on the Picture Completion subtest, and Rorschach form level proved to be discriminators. These were interpreted as primarily reflecting reality testing. A linear combination of WAIS scale scores was identified that discriminated at least as well as the clinical WAIS-Rorschach comparisons.

Borderline Personality Disorder↗
PubMed1982

The adolescent suicide attempt: a cardinal symptom of a serious psychiatric disorder.

The rate of adolescent suicides has been increasing over the past decade. This article is a review of the literature regarding the adolescent who attempts suicide with emphasis on the underlying pathology and shows that a true adolescent suicide attempt should be viewed as a cardinal symptom in establishing the identity of a serious psychiatric disorder. This seriousness is reflected in terms of increased lethality, degree of internal pain, decreased reality testing, and evidence of underlying long-standing pathology. Most often there is evidence of a depressive syndrome and also underlying personality disorders.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Managing strain in a classical analysis: re-establishing the therapeutic relationship or interpreting unconscious wishes.

The therapeutic relationship frequently comes under a strain during the course of an analysis. At these times, the analysand perceives and reacts to the analyst as if the analyst were a critical or seductive archaic object. When this occurs, the analyst has the choice of interpreting the unconscious source of the analysand's non-therapeutic reactions or of interacting with the analysand in a manner which re-establishes and potentially strengthens the therapeutic relationship. Interpretations during the early phases of an analysis are unlikely to mitigate the strain until the therapeutic relationship has become stronger and until considerable reality testing has promoted a context which allows the analysand to understand and to tolerate her or his unconscious wishes.

Humans↗
PubMed1996

Dissociative trance disorder: clinical and Rorschach findings in ten persons reporting demon possession and treated by exorcism.

Although dissociative trance disorders, especially possession disorder, are probably more common than is usually though, precise clinical data are lacking. Ten persons undergoing exorcisms for devil trance possession state were studied with the Dissociative Disorders Diagnostic Schedule and the Rorschach test. These persons had many traits in common with dissociative identity disorder patients. They were overwhelmed by paranormal experiences. Despite claiming possession by a demon, most of them managed to maintain normal social functioning. Rorschach findings showed that these persons had a complex personality organization: Some of them displayed a tendency to oversimplify stimulus perception whereas others seemed more committed to psychological complexity. Most had severe impairment of reality testing, and 6 of the participants had an extratensive coping stile. In this group of persons reporting demon possession, dissociative trance disorder seems to be a distinct clinical manifestation of a dissociative continuum, sharing some features with dissociative identity disorder.

Adult↗