EB Style as a Moderating Variable in identifying Features of Psychosis in an Adolescent Population
Abstract
The aim of this study was to contribute to the research on using the Rorschach Inkblot Test to identify adolescents that are at risk for experiencing psychotic symptoms. It was hypothesized that the utility of the Perceptual Thinking Index (PTI) and its components would be affected by Erlebnistypus (EB Style), because this variable is representative of the way an individual is likely to have approached the Rorschach task. It was further hypothesized that the quality of the specific responses associated with one's primary mechanism for problem-solving would be most likely to predict psychotic diagnosis as well as self-report and therapist ratings of psychotic features. Pearson correlations revealed differences between the three EB Style groups in terms of which Rorschach variables were correlated with various indicators of psychotic features. In particular, the PTI composite variable was correlated with whether or not an individual was diagnosed with a psychotic disorder only when individuals had introversive or ambitensive EB styles. On the other hand, the use of a new variable, C-%, was correlated with multiple self-report measures of psychotic features, but only when individuals had an extratensive style. Finally, a significant interaction effect was found between extratensive EB Style and C-% on color cards when predicting scores on the MMPI-A Schizophrenia Scale. Although not entirely consistent with the hypothesized trends, these patterns are of interest, and possible implications are explored in this text. Of importance is the dearth of research available on EB Style, despite the likelihood that one's problem-solving style affects the response process on the Rorschach test itself. Given the patterns observed in the results of this study, further research on the usefulness of this particular variable is necessary.
Subject Area
Clinical psychology
Recommended Citation
Pearston, Christine, "EB Style as a Moderating Variable in identifying Features of Psychosis in an Adolescent Population" (2014). ETD Collection for Pace University. AAI3581562.
https://digitalcommons.pace.edu/dissertations/AAI3581562
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