Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Email this article to a Colleague Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to My Articles & Searches Download to citation manager Citing Articles via Google Scholar Articles by Wise, T. N. Search for Related Content Articles by Wise, T. N. General Topics in Psychiatry Tests

Psychosomatic Medicine and the Rorschach Test

Thomas N. Wise, M.D.

The title of this volume is deceptive in that the book contains superb reviews of the basic concepts of diagnosis, as well as a more in-depth discussion of somatization disorders, alexithymia, and other psychosomatic constructs. Dr. Porcelli’s clear writing style and scholarly referencing make the book a delight. Dr. Porcelli, who has published extensively on alexithymia and related somatizing disorders, reviews the literature on Rorschach testing in a wide variety of psychosomatic conditions. These include pain disorders, somatization disorders, and life-threatening conditions such as breast cancer and other serious medical illnesses. Although used for almost a century, the Rorschach test has recently been a subject of controversy and criticism in both the scientific and popular press.¹ Despite these critiques, the use of projective testing may expose a variety of psychodynamic issues and characteristics within such patients.

At first glance, this book may seem quite specialized but it is, in fact, quite useful for the consultation-liaison psychiatrist. Its initial chapters are wonderful overviews for clinicians in practice, as well as residents and students in training, although the chapters on the specific Rorschach responses would be useful for practicing psychologists. There are few psychologists as sophisticated as Dr. Porcelli, and his data, with quantitative means using the Exner Comprehensive Scoring System, will be most useful as a validation check on projective tests that must be reviewed in many cases. It will provide a valuable reference base for consultation psychiatrists who order or receive projective testing of their patients. This book is a bargain and should be in medical libraries where consultation services exist, as well as the personal libraries of consultation psychiatrists who use projective testing. It is a very fine addition to our literature by a particularly sophisticated psychologist who works in the medical-surgical interface.

FOOTNOTES

 
Dr. Wise is Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry, Inova Fairfax Hospital; Medical Director of Behavioral Services at Inova Health Systems, Falls Church, Va.; and Editor-in-Chief of Psychosomatics.

REFERENCES

TOP REFERENCES

 

1. Wood JM, Nexworski MT, Lillienfeld S: What’s Wrong With the Rorschach? Science Confronts the Controversial Inkblot Test. New York, John Wiley, 2003

Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Email this article to a Colleague Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to My Articles & Searches Download to citation manager Citing Articles via Google Scholar Articles by Wise, T. N. Search for Related Content Articles by Wise, T. N. General Topics in Psychiatry Tests

Get information about faster international access.

Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2005 Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine. All rights reserved.

Home | Search | Current Issue | Past Issues | Subscribe | All APPI Journals | Help | Contact Us