The Utility of the Rorschach in Detecting Adolescent Thought Disorder: A Case Study

Date of Award

Summer 8-23-2025

Document Type

Doctoral Research Paper

Degree Name

Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology

Organizational Unit

Graduate School of Professional Psychology

First Advisor

Lavita Nadkarni

Second Advisor

Carrie Landin

Third Advisor

Talli Hitt

Copyright Statement / License for Reuse

All Rights Reserved
All Rights Reserved.

Keywords

Rorschach, Rorschach Performance Assessment System (R-PAS), Comprehensive System (CS), Early intervention for psychosis, Clinical high-risk

Abstract

The Rorschach has been utilized extensively to detect thought disturbance in adults, though less research is available regarding its utility with younger populations at clinical high-risk (CHR) for schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. Identification of such youth may allow for early intervention that can greatly improve their quality of life and course of illness. Methods: This paper presents a case study of Sara, a 14-year-old, able-bodied female of Middle Eastern descent who identifies as white and cisgender. Sara endorsed symptoms consistent with the psychosis prodrome, including aberrant perceptual experiences, unusual thought content, decreased role functioning, and interpersonal deficits. Sara’s Rorschach responses were interpreted using the Rorschach Performance Assessment System (R-PAS) and the Comprehensive System (CS), then findings were compared to explore whether either system was effective in identifying an adolescent potentially at high-risk for psychosis. Results: Sara’s R-PAS and CS profiles both indicated the presence of poor reality testing, aberrant perceptual experiences, and impaired interpersonal functioning. Conclusions: This case study suggests the Rorschach, whether interpreted using the CS or the R-PAS, has valuable utility in detecting CHR youth. Such identification allows for implementation of promising early intervention strategies to improve functional outcomes and quality of life.

Copyright Date

6-30-2025

Publication Statement

Copyright is held by the author. Permanently suppressed.

Rights Holder

Kasia B. Burnett

Provenance

Received from author

File Format

application/pdf

Language

English (eng)

Extent

73 pgs

File Size

1.6 MB

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