A Comparative Analysis of MMPI and Rorschach Findings Assessing Combat-Related PTSD in Vietnam Veterans—Analysis of MMPI and Rorschach Findings Assessing PTSD

Abstract

There has been a proliferation of assessment research on Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) over the past twenty years. In spite of recent advances in the PTSD assessment research, there continues to be a controversy as to whether the MMPI or Rorschach is more useful in determining the presence of PTSD. The present comparative analysis of the research literature will carefully evaluate controlled empirical studies, which utilized psychometric measures such as the MMPI/2 and Rorschach to identify PTSD in Vietnam Veterans. This analysis is guided by the paucity of comparative data for standardized objective and projective instruments to assess combat-related PTSD. The analysis indicated that the MMPI as an assessment instrument focuses on symptom recognition of PTSD while the Rorschach seems to be more likely to identify chronic adaptations to trauma. The significance of pre-combat factors, such as preexisting personality, and their impact on the way individuals make meaning and express traumatic experiences needs to be further addressed in future research. The need for reliable and valid measures to assess combat-related PTSD is urgent as an increasing number of soldiers return from war zones.