Comparison of the Rorschach Test Characteristics between Bipolar Disorder and Unipolar Depression

Mi Jin Kim; Ju Hyun Park; Ji Hyun Baek; Eun Ho Lee; Ji Hae Kim; Hong Choi; Dongsoo Lee; Kyung Sue Hong

doi:10.0000/kjsr.2012.15.2.81

Journal List > Korean J Schizophr Res > v.15(2) > 1057783

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Kim, Park, Baek, Lee, Kim, Choi, Lee, and Hong: Comparison of the Rorschach Test Characteristics between Bipolar Disorder and Unipolar Depression

Original Article

Korean Journal of Schizophrenia Research

Korean Journal of Schizophrenia Research 2012; 15(2): 81-89.

Published online: 31 October 2012

DOI: https://doi.org/10.0000/kjsr.2012.15.2.81

Comparison of the Rorschach Test Characteristics between Bipolar Disorder and Unipolar Depression

Mi Jin Kim, MD, Ju Hyun Park, MA, Ji Hyun Baek, MD, Eun Ho Lee, MA, Ji Hae Kim, PhD, Hong Choi, MD, PhD, Dongsoo Lee, MD, PhD, Kyung Sue Hong, MD, PhD

Department of Psychiatry, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.

Address for correspondence: Kyung Sue Hong, Department of Psychiatry, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, 50 Irwon-Dong, Gangnam-Gu, Seoul 135-710, Korea. Tel: 02-3410-3584, Fax: 02-3410-0050, hongks@skku.edu

Received 6 August 2012 Revised 14 September 2012 Accepted 20 September 2012

Abstract

Objectives

Differential diagnosis based on descriptive psychopathology between bipolar and unipolar depression in the clinical setting is a still huge challenge. Projective psychological tests might provide additional clues. This study aimed to find distinct Rorschach test characteristics of bipolar depression in comparison with unipolar depression.

Methods

Medical records and raw data of the Rorschach Inkblot test applied using standardized procedure for the Exner Comprehensive System were retrospectively reviewed for patients with bipolar disorder or unipolar depression. Individual variables of the Rorchach test were compared among three groups, i.e., (hypo) mania (n=59), bipolar depression (n=56) and unipolar depression (n=25).

Results

Bipolar depression group, in accordance with (hypo) manic group, showed more color reponses (WSumC), more extroverted and intuitive decision-making (EBright), and higher emotional expression (CF+C) and instability (ebright), compared to unipolar deperssion group. On the contrary, the (hypo) mania group displayed more cognitive errors (Sum6, WSum6) compared to both depression groups.

Conclusion

This study suggests that Rorchach test might provide valuable markers for differential diagnosis between bipolar and unipolar depression, and that some of those markers could be regarded as trait markers of bipolar disorder.

Keywords: Bipolar depression, Unipolar depression, Rorschach test

Figures and Tables

Table 1

Socieodemographic characteristics of the subjects

^*: separated were regarded as married ; divorced were regarded as unmarried. BM : bipolar mania, BD : bipolar depression, UD : unipolar depression

Table 2

Summary of Rorschach test variables

Table 3

Comparison of the Rorschach test variables among bipolar mania, bipolar depression and unipolar depression groups: core section

^*: p-value by LSD post hoc analyses, ^†: EB=M : WSumC EBleft=M, ^‡: EBright=WSumC, ^§: eb=SumFM+m : SumC'+SumT+SumY+SumV, ebleft=SumFM+SumC', ^¶: ebright=SumC'+SumT+SumY+SumV.... BM : bipolar mania, BD : bipolar depression, UD : unipolar depression

Table 4

Comparison of the Rorschach test variables among bipolar mania, bipolar depression and unipolar depression groups : affect, interpersonal, and processing sections

^*: p-value by LSD post hoc analyses. BM : bipolar mania, BD : bipolar depression, UD : unipolar depression

Table 5

Comparison of the Rorschach test variables among bipolar mania, bipolar depression and unipolar depression groups : ideation, mediation, and self perception sections

^*: p-value by LSD post hoc analyses. BM : bipolar mania, BD : bipolar depression, UD : unipolar depression

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