A Study Of Rorschach’s Test In Patients With Autoimmune Diseases And Possible Relation With Opioid And Cannabinoid Systems

Research Article

Abstract

Objective

There are few studies examining psychological characteristics in patients with autoimmune disease, while significantly more attention has been given to emotional, personality changes and cognitive profile in cancer disease. A irreversible chronic and pervasive disorder brings many life stresses and affects the patient's ability to cope with them. This study explored the personality characteristics in a sample of patients affected by the most common autoimmune diseases. .

Methods

After having informed consent, 40 patients (8 male and 32 female, age; 46 ± standard deviation) with autoimmune disease were included. Information about sociodemographic data and clinical details was collected using the sociodemographic and clinical data sheet from the drawn sample. All participants were administered the Rorschach Test by the psychologist.

Results

From a relationship point of view, all patients approached the test with a collaborative attitude and they often manifested an open interest for the diagnostic material. The Rorschach administration was conducted without any irregularity. Most of patients gave more than 20 answers, 46% of the patients gave a number of detail answers inferior to the normative range, 65% of the test presented a number of human content in the normative range. In 70% of the patients, the index intimate resonance (T.R.I.) index was extra tensive. Our findings show that the patients in our sample perceive themselves as being less competent than others, at some cost to their self-esteem. A large percentage relies on an avoidant style of coping with problems. The spirituality is present in patients with autoimmune disease unlike cancer patients.  Its absence tends to compromise the sexual one as well.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that some variables of the Rorschach test could assist with medical treatment of autoimmune disease and the test could be one of the most useful diagnostic tools to explore personality traits and psychological functioning.