Associations between the Rorschach Ego Impairment Index and Measures on Intrapsychic and Interpersonal Functioning

Abstract

The Rorschach Ego Impairment Index-2 (EII-2) has shown considerable validity as a measure of personality disturbance. However, few studies have been conducted on the associations between the EII-2 and measures related to ego strength and interpersonal capacities in mood and anxiety disorder patients. This study examined the strength of associations between the EII-2 and its subcomponents with measures of psychological suitability for psychotherapy, personality functioning, and interpersonal problems. A total of 315 outpatients with mood or anxiety disorders were assessed with the Rorschach Comprehensive System (RCS), comprising the EII-2, the Suitability for Psychotherapy Scale (SPS), the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP-64), and the Quality of Object Relations Scale (QORS), as part of a pre-treatment evaluation. The relatively weak associations found in the study between the EII-2 and the other measures were mostly in the hypothesized direction and often modified by personality pathology. Of the EII-2 subcomponents, the Good Human Representation (GHR) variable was associated with the SPS. The subcomponent Critical Contents were associated with the IIP and the subcomponent WSum6 with the IIP and QORS. Further research is needed to clarify whether the EII-2 has incremental validity in predicting the treatment outcome and alliance in comparison to interview-based and self-report measures.