MMPI-2, BDI-II, and Rorschach in the Assessment of PTSD

Abstract: The Rorschach has demonstrated sensitivity in identifying traumatic experiences, serving as an effective tool for trauma assessment by eliciting trauma-related images through its inkblots. The purpose of this study was to examine the clinical utility of the Rorschach for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) assessment and suicide prevention in comparison with other psychological tests, such as the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)-II and Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)-2. A total of 63 Korean first responders who had been exposed to traumatic incidents during work participated in the study. According to the analysis, the PTSD symptoms of intrusive recollections and impaired sleep/emotional numbing/dissociation are significant risk factors for suicide. In this study, the Rorschach demonstrated effectiveness in detecting perceptual disturbances and trauma-related experiences as risk factors for suicide, while the BDI-II and Scale 2 of the MMPI-2 were effective in assessing emotional disturbances as risk factors. The implications of the results are discussed.