A mass of flesh: Schizophrenic Rorschach percepts

Abstract 

The present study reports the recent finding that schizophrenic patients produce Rorschach percepts implying a mass of flesh (flesh mass). Although typically directly referring to a mass of flesh or muscle, the flesh masses were seen more broadly, in modified forms such as animals or human beings with diminution of head, arms, or legs. From observations on 76 chronic schizophrenics, inclusion and exclusion criteria were developed to reliably detect both explicit and implicit flesh masses. The presence or absence of the flesh mass was further examined in the Rorschach data of 22 patients with acute schizophrenia, 30 with anxiety disorders, 16 with psychotic mood disorders, and 28 normal adults. Diagnoses were made according to DSM-IV. Flesh masses were seen in 75 of 76 cases of chronic schizophrenia, in all cases of acute schizophrenia, in two patients with anxiety disorders, and in one patient with a mood disorder. Normal adults did not perceive any flesh mass. Flesh masses proved to be characteristic of schizophrenia, whether chronic or acute. Copyright 2002, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.

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