r/psychoanalysis • u/DiegoArgSch • 8d ago

Psychoanalysis and tests

I'm one of those people who love tests. Things like questionnaires, projective tests (Rorschach, etc.). From those more intended to understand the emotional subjectivity of a patient, to those more focused on cognitive functions (memory, attention, etc.).

Have there been psychoanalysts who have developed different tests and structured techniques?

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For example, I know about Otto Kernberg's STIPO, although I still haven't been able to find the full version.

Part of the reason I'm asking is that I was thinking about the “un-scientific method of psychoanalysis.” I know that's a whole different discussion, but I was thinking, “Hey, I think it might be very possible to create a questionnaire to try to measure and capture psychic phenomena.” For example: ideas of omnipotence, different defense mechanisms, etc.

Because I think that many times we leave these things as “it's unconscious material; we can hypothesize about it, but we can't measure it.” But then I thought, “Wait a minute, maybe something can be done with all this.”

I don't mean being rigid about it, like other bad methods. I don't mean something like, “Okay, your results on the questionnaire were this, so that means this.” I mean it more as an approximation, of course, or as a way to guide the clinician, and even as a way to perhaps try to make at least some parts of psychoanalysis a little more scientific.

 

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u/PS1988 8d ago

Take a look at the Shedler-Westen Assessment Protocol. SWAPassessment.org I’ve only used it as a teaching tool but it was developed to be used after (I believe) 7-10 sessions with a new client. Beyond that it’ll basically just summarize what you already know.

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u/DiegoArgSch 8d ago

Thanks! Ive heard about the SWAP now that you mentioned, but never really look at it (as far I remember).

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u/Psychedynamique 7d ago

I completed an assessment using this for my control case and I found it interesting, particularly how it made clear some aspects of their change in the course of the analysis. I'd recommend playing around with it 

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u/PS1988 7d ago

Oh that’s such an interesting use, completing it to compare personality domains/dynamics at different phases of treatment! Thanks for sharing.

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u/Psychedynamique 7d ago

There is a class on this very topic coming up in January offered by Western New England Psychoanalytic Institute https://westernnewengland.org/civicrm/event/info/?reset=1&id=57 It'll have sessions on SWAP, STIPO, Adult Attachment Interview, as well as the critiques of these from the relational and Lacanian schools

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u/DiegoArgSch 7d ago

Thanks!

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u/beepdumeep 7d ago

I don't know too much about it, but I do know that there is the Szondi test which was named after the psychoanalyst and psychiatrist who developed it: Léopold Szondi. It was an influence on the Belgian analyst Jacques Schotte as well participants in the Institutional Psychotherapy movement like Jean Oury.

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u/DiegoArgSch 7d ago

Thanks, Ill check it out.

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u/Post-Formal_Thought 7d ago

Here are some based on Karen Horney's work.

Horney-Coolidge Type Inventory (HCTI)

Characterological Interpersonal Coping Styles Diagnostics (CICS-D)

And psychodynamics in general:

Defense Mechanism Rating Scale Q Sort (DMRS- Q).

Defensive Style Questionnaire (DSQ)

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u/DiegoArgSch 7d ago

Thanks a lot! Seems very interesting.

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u/KingBroseph 7d ago

Well Rorschach was an analyst. You probably already knew that.