Psychosomatics 43:360-369, October 2002
© 2002 The Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine
Construct Validity of Rorschach Variables for Alexithymia
Piero Porcelli, Ph.D., and
Gregory J. Meyer, Ph.D.
Received Sept. 17, 2001; revision received Jan. 30, 2002; accepted Feb. 13, 2002. From the Psychosomatic Unit, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Ospedale De Bellis, Castellana Grotte, Italy; and the Department of Psychology, University of Anchorage, Anchorage, AK. Address reprint requests to Dr. Porcelli, Unità di Psicosomatica, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Ospedale De Bellis, Via Valente, 4, 70013 Castellana Grotte (Bari), Italy; porcellip{at}mail.media.it (e-mail).
The construct validity of Rorschach Comprehensive System (CS) variables theoretically linked to alexithymia was evaluated in 92 outpatients with inflammatory bowel disease, 32 of whom were categorized as alexithymic, 15 as indeterminate-alexithymic, and 45 as nonalexithymic, on the basis of Toronto Alexithymia Scale scores. Six sets of Rorschach CS marker variables were selected for analysis: fantasy, affect, adaptive resources, cognition, social adaptation, and projection. Most variables significantly differentiated the three groups. Compared with the other groups, alexithymic subjects were more likely to show an impoverished fantasy life, poorly adapted emotional expression, poor coping resources, concrete and stereotypical thinking, and social conformity with compromised relationships.
Key Words: Rorschach Validity • Alexithymia
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