PROJECTION SCALES
Rorschach Alexithymia Scale (RAS)
(Porcelli & Mihura 2010 ).
Variable
The RAS was developed to provide a projection scale estimate of the TAS-20 alexithymia scores. The RAS con-
sists of a selection of Rorschach indices, meaning that individuals have to report what they see in all Rorschach
inkblots. These responses must then be scored with the aid of the extensive Rorschach manual ( Exner, 1993 ).
Description
Porcelli and Meyer (2002) stated that earlier Rorschach /C0alexithymia studies had various methodological short-
comings. They therefore re-studied the associations of various Rorschach indices with the TAS-20 in a group of
92 chronic inflammatory bowel disease patients. On face validity they selected 27 Rorschach indices, of which 24
turned out to be significantly related to alexithymia as measured by the TAS-20. Recently the RAS ( Porcelli &
Mihura, 2010 ) was developed using scores of 127 psychiatric outpatients. For reasons of effect size, redundancy,
and simplicity, Porcelli and Mihura reduced the 24 indices down to six. One first has to present all Rorschach
inkblots, then score the responses of the person, according to the Rorschach manual, and then select the relevant
RAS indices, making its administration time consuming, with the total time needed depending on the number of
response to the various inkblots.
There is only one RAS publication (Porcelli, personal communication).
Sample
Porcelli and Meyer’s (2002) sample consisted of 92 chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients, taking
5-aminosalicylate alone or in combination with steroid treatment, according to their IBD activity status. No
patient had undergone surgery. The sample was homogeneous for disease, geographical area, and treatment set-
ting (% of women, and mean age not reported). Porcelli and Mihura’s (2010) sample consisted of 127 psychiatric
outpatients (57.5% women) with a mean age of 30.4 years ( SD59.9) and a mean education of 13.0 years
(SD53.7).
Reliability
Inter-Rater
Porcelli and Meyer (2002) reported intra-class correlations for the Rorschach indices between two raters scor-
ing the same 30 Rorschach protocols ( M5.87; range 0.72 to 1.00)
Validity
Convergent/Concurrent
The sum of the RAS weighted scores (unstandardized regression coefficients) correlated positively with TAS-
20 (.78), TAS-20-DIF (.77), DDF (.63), and EOT (.69). The RAS cutting-score of 56 provided sensitivity, specificity,
and overall correct classification (.88, .94, and .92 respectively), in terms of TAS-20 scores ( Porcelli & Mihura,
2010 ).
Location
Porcelli, P. & Mihura, J.L. (2010). Assessment of alexithymia with the Rorschach comprehensive system: The
Rorschach Alexithymia Scale (RAS). Journal of Personality Assessment , 92, 128 /C0136.
Results and Comments
The limited data available for the TAS-20 point to good concurrent validity. However, since there are no other
psychometric data, more RAS studies are necessary. Furthermore, the Rorschach administration is time consum-
ing and requires extensive experience. Finally RAS scores are just estimates of TAS-20 scores.
RAS Sample Items
Sample Rorschach indices: Form%, CDI, M, (Rorschach Comprehensive System; Exner, 1993 ).231 PROJECTION SCALES
III. EMOTION REGULATION