Rorschach Tests, a blot on the scientific landscape

An article on an exhibition devoted to the work of Hermann Rorschach, father of the test that bears his name. The exhibition celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Rorschach archive at the University Library in Bern. The archive, the only one in the world devoted to Rorschach, was founded by the Bernese psychiatrist Walter Morgenthaler in 1957 and was substantially enriched seven years ago by bequests from the psychiatrist's estate.

"Hermann Rorschach: a Swiss psychiatrist between science and intuition" is running at the University Library, Bern, from December 6 to February 23.

Of interest is that despite beliefs to the contrary, the test is scientifically useless:

Pseudoscience

While the Rorschach test continues to be defended and used by psychologists, its one not insignificant flaw is that it is scientifically virtually worthless.

In the United States in the 1940s and 1950s even mentioning inkblots got psychologists drooling like Pavlov's dogs, thanks to seemingly miraculous personality readings by Rorschach experts.

Under controlled studies however these "experts" failed miserably and it wasn't long before more critical scientists realised that Rorschachians were simply, and most probably subconsciously, using cold reading, a technique used by fortune-tellers and others posing as psychics and mediums.

"The readings say more about [the examiners] than the subjects," to quote Anne Anastasi, the noted differential psychologist.

The exhibition glosses over these negative aspects, but it does provide a fascinating profile of one of the most influential, if misguided, psychologists of the 20th century.

Thus it is of interest to those who wish to see how badly people can go wrong.

Retired Swiss psychiatrist found guilty over assisted suicide

A story that we missed when it first came out. as seen on Youtube, video included below.

Retired Swiss psychiatrist was found guilty over assisted suicide killings. A court in Switzerland has sentenced a retired psychiatrist to three years, for helping three depressed people commit suicide.

Peter Baumann, who ran his own assisted-suicide association, was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in a country which has some of the most relaxed assisted-suicide laws in Europe.

Psychiatrist helped three depressed people commit suicide.

As seen in EuroNews

A court in Switzerland has sentenced a retired psychiatrist to three years, for helping three depressed people commit suicide.

Peter Baumann, who ran his own assisted-suicide association, was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in a country which has some of the most relaxed assisted-suicide laws in Europe.

Two thirds of the jail term is suspended.

The prosecution told Basel criminal court that the three people in question were not capable of making a judgement.

Authorities began investigating him after a 48-year-old mentally-ill man committed suicide in 2001.

Then, in 2002, he helped a 62-year-old woman die. The case was documented in a Swiss TV programme.

In 2003, at the scene of another suicide, police found Baumann's fingerprints on the plastic bag used to administer the lethal dose of drugs.

Skyrocketing Mental Health Disability claims in Switzerland

As seen in this report from Switzerland

The number of people claiming disability benefit for mental health problems has tripled in Switzerland over the past ten years, with over 70,000 claimants in 2002. There are fears that the explosion in disability handouts could cripple the state’s invalidity insurance fund.

Until recently, the main causes of disability were physical illness, accidents or congenital disabilities. But there has recently been a sharp rise in mental health problems, such as depression, neuroses, insomnia and panic attacks. “A third of those who qualify for disability benefit are claiming for mental health reasons,” says Brigitte Breitenmoser, deputy director of the Federal Social Insurance Office.

So the question is, where is this rise in claims coming from, given the earlier articles published in this weblog.