A Rorschach Study on the Psychological Characteristics of Alcoholics

Abstract

The Rorschach test was administered to 100 alcoholic patients. Results were analyzed by means of new procedures based on a diagnostic sign list, a normality score, a statistical procedure for discriminating significant sign differences between clinical groups, and a new approach to the theoretical interpretation of certain sign patterns. The total alcoholic group was compared with a normal group as well as a psychoneurotic, a psychopathic and a nonpsychotic organic group. The greatest difference was between the alcoholic and normal group. There was a resemblance between the alcoholic and psychopathic group, but still more between the alcoholic and the nonpsychotic organic group. In comparing total alcoholics with other clinical groups, or psychiatrically defined subgroups of alcoholics with corresponding nonalcoholic subgroups, a pattern of signs significant for the alcoholics of each clinical group was found. Primarily the presence of high anxiety and apprehension (k+K+FK) in conjunction with low tension-tol-erance (low m). distinguishes alcoholic from corresponding non-alcoholic groups. In the alcoholic, anxiety seems to result from loss of control in acute tension situations which the alcoholic cannot stand and immediately escapes. In the psychoneurotic alcoholic the escape to alcohol may be a reaction to both deep-level conflicts and acute pressure of everyday living; in the psychopathic and organically damaged alcoholic acute pressure may be enough to evoke the escape impulse. Unlike the psychopath, who is a less normal and less well integrated personality, the alcoholic escapes with a bad conscience. Both the alcoholic and the psychopath usually begin to develop their symptoms in adolescence because of strain and tension connected with the assumption of responsibilities at that stage. Four case histories illustrate the findings and discussion.