Using Rorschach CS Narrative Responses of the MOA Scale to Construct and Share Patient’s Model Scenes

The Mutuality of Autonomy Scale (MOAS; Urist, 1977 ; Urist & Shill, 1982 ) provides a summary measure of a patient’s repertoire of previous interpersonal interactions. It lends empirical support for the hypothesized salience of object representations, including the patient’s subjective relational experience being an integral facet of personality. It also enhances the therapist’s capacity to access the patient’s inner relational world during the consulting sessions by activating the capacity to think metaphorically. Rorschach narrative responses included in the MOAS are useful in detecting initial representations of a patient’s relational modalities, in sharing the same verbalization, and in helping to construct the initial model scene. This entails significant communication from the patient about his or her life. These scenes can be used by the therapist and the patient to “depict something previously unknown, starting from what is known.” The purpose of using MOAS responses is to give the patient some initial cognitive and emotional representations to configurations of relational experiences, very similar to model scenes ( Lachmann & Lichtenberg, 1992 ). A clinical example is used to illustrate the relationship between MOAS responses and model scenes used in the psychoanalytical framework.

Bridging the Gap

In recent years, a number of researchers have developed Rorschach coding approaches that attempt to quantify psychodynamic constructs. This article describes four such approaches: the Rorschach Defense Scales, Primitive Interpersonal Modes, the Mutuality of Autonomy Scale, and the Rorschach Reality-Fantasy Scale. These four seemingly different approaches have a common goal: creating quantitative Rorschach systems for describing psychodynamic constructs (defense mechanisms, primitive interpersonal modes, self- and object-representations) and the use of potential space.

Rorschach and suicide-theories: A preliminary study in young women

IntroductionThe accuracy of the Rorschach Test in identifying the pathway to suicide is still controversial, though it can help for a better understanding of the functioning of suicidal minds.ObjectivesTo investigate whether Rorschach indexes fit major suicidal models.AimsTo evaluate whether Schneidman's psychache theory (1993), Baumeister's thought deconstruction model (1990) and Maltsberger's affect deluge model (2003) fit with Rorschach test indexes.MethodsThree young women hospitalised for near-lethal suicide- attempts were analysed through the Rorschach test by trained researchers using the Exner Comprehensive System. The Concept of the Object Scale on the Rorschach (COR) and the Mutuality of Autonomy Scale (MOA) were used for a systematic assessment of object relations and as index of interpersonal relationship capacities respectively.ResultsAll the tests are scarce. All patients rejected Table 9.Patient 1: L = 1.4, EB=3:0, X- index = 0.25, M- = 2, EA=3; X+% = 0.58; P=3; Zd = −1.5; Afr =0.2;Ego index = 0.5 sR=1 and S-CON = 9. COR: poor differentiation, articulation and integration and MOA level 2.Patient 2 : L = 1.5; CDI +; EB = 2:0; Afr = 0.37. Ego index 0.3; EA = 2 ; S-CON = 8. COR = good differentiation and integration, though a poor articulation of the object, MOA level of 2.Patient 3: L = 1.42; Ag=0, COP = 0; S-CON = 8; MOR = 2; Afr = 0.41, SumC’ = 1; CDI +; FM = 2, m = 1, M = 1. COR: scarce differentiation, severely impaired articulation and integration of the object, MOA = level 6.ConclusionsPatient 1's Rorschach test suggests Baumeister's model; patient 2's test Maltsberger's model and patient 3's test Schneidman model.