Rorschach Responses in Old Age (the Master Work Series)

Today, clinicians understand that individuals' behavior reflects the biological state of their organism. To give optimal support and help to elderly people, we must recognize their developmental state as resulting in part from the biological aging process. The Rorschach test offers a remarkable tool for assessing this developmental status - for seeing which, among a group of old people of similar age, are still mentally robust, which show the beginning signs of slowing down, and which are no longer able to function independently. This Rorschach is particularly useful for evaluation in the middle range of this sequence, when the individual has become less capable but when verbalism may mask the extent of the disability. The authors present here one of the most extensive Rorschach studies to date of people between the ages of 70 and 100. They establish a gradient of responses in older subjects from normal adult performance, through a presenile level, to senility. The material is presented in concrete fashion, with specific signs as well as typical scores of presenility and senility, and with many complete records typical of each level of performance. Rorschach Responses in Old Age provides thorough data and guidance on using this test to assess the developmental stage as well as the psychological well-being of elderly patients.