This study examines the expression of selflessness – the tendency to ignore one’s own needs and serve others’ needs – in Rorschach protocols of women suffering from anorexia nervosa. The protocols of 35 women suffering from anorexia nervosa were compared to 30 protocols of a psychiatric comparison group. A multivariate analysis of variance over five variables (AG, PER, PHR, COP, and GHR) was significant: Anorexic patients showed higher characteristics of selflessness compared to the psychiatric comparison group. These findings contribute to the validation of the Rorschach technique and to the clinical observation of selflessness in anorexic patients, and they emphasize specific characteristics in the treatment of anorexia nervosa patients.
