The Value of the Rorschach Method in Clinical Assessment of Migraine Patients

Margaux Bouteloup (1, 2) , Rose-Angélique Belot (1) , André Mariage (1) , Magalie Bonnet (1) , Fabrice Vuillier (3)

1 UFC - Université de Franche-Comté
2 UNIGE - Université de Genève = University of Geneva
3 CHRU Besançon - Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire de Besançon

Approximately 15% of the world’s population suffer from migraine. This affliction is recognized as one of the 20 leading causes of disability globally and therefore constitutes a public health problem. Psychological factors such as depression, anxiety, and stress are involved in migraine. However, mentalization abilities are considered a protective factor against physical illness. The last study of migraine in adults using the Rorschach test goes back to 2001 in Italy. We propose to update the data in a French sample comparing migraine patients ( N = 32) with standards focusing on the mentalizing factors defined by de Tychey, Diwo, and Dollander (2000) . The results highlight significant differences between migraine patient functioning in the Rorschach and the general population: There are few representations and affective expression is restricted. Migraine patients have difficulties to mentalize excitations. In conclusion, mentalization-based treatment could be a beneficial intervention for migraine patients.

Mots clés: assessment; mentalization; migraine; neurology; Rorschach test; Rorschach-test

Domaines: Psychologie; Neurosciences [q-bio.NC]; Médecine humaine et pathologie

Margaux Bouteloup, Rose-Angélique Belot, André Mariage, Magalie Bonnet, Fabrice Vuillier. The Value of the Rorschach Method in Clinical Assessment of Migraine Patients. Rorschachiana, 2020, 41 (1), pp.42-62. ⟨10.1027/1192-5604/a000119⟩. ⟨hal-03578779⟩