Evaluation of childhood sexual abuse using responses of a Rorschach method

Abstract

Objective: To determine indicatives of childhood sexual abuse using the Rorschach Method in children assisted by Equipe de Proteção à Criança do Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre during the years of 2002 and 2003. Methods: Retrospective, qualitative and quantitative study of nine children, aged four years and six months to eleven years, sexually abused. The occurrence of the fact was verbalized by the children themselves or their caregivers. All had pediatric medical confirmation of the sexual abuse. All patients were tested by Rorschach Method and the results were reviewed by the professional team of Serviço de Psicologia. Based on the answers of the protocols the results were classified. The answers were coded using the Klopfer classification system. Results: The Rorscharch Method indicated sexual abuse in all nine children studied. Depression, anxiety, impulsiveness, relationship difficulties were personality characteristics that appeared with higher frequency. In the protocols analysis traumatic contents emerged, such as blood, sex, morbidity, fear and aggressive movement. Conclusion: The results showed that the Rorscharch Method can indicate childhood sexual abuse. Analyzing the protocols it was observed that all studied children showed difficulties related to structuring a healthy personality.