Papers by Donald Viglione
Psychoanalytic Psychology
Journal of Forensic Psychology Research and Practice
Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, Jun 17, 2023
Objectives To compare the performances of two matched groups of patients with Alzheimer's disease... more Objectives To compare the performances of two matched groups of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD) on a battery of neuropsychological tests. Methods 325 patients attending a memory clinic were given a detailed multidisciplinary diagnostic assessment, including a battery of neuropsychological tests administered by a psychologist and a speech and language therapist. The performances of two groups of patients meeting ICD-10 criteria for AD (n ¼ 103) and VaD (n ¼ 68) were compared, adjusting for age, gender, dementia severity and pre-morbid IQ. Patients with co-morbid depression and mixed AD þ VaD were excluded. Results After adjustment, the AD and VaD groups differed significantly on the Graded Naming Test (VaD superior), AMIPB Complex Design immediate and delayed recall (VaD superior), the Trail Making Test error score (Part B) (VaD superior), and Verbal Picture Description (VaD superior). Conclusions These findings support previous evidence that language function and non-verbal memory are selectively more impaired in AD. The better performance by VaD patients on the Trail Making Test (B) runs counter to previous suggestions that there is an excess of frontal executive dysfunction in this disorder. It may be that this test is more sensitive to the early impairment of concurrent manipulation of information in AD.
Journal of Personality Assessment, Nov 9, 2020
Recently, Ales et al. (2019) reported on an eye-tracking study showing that Complexity and other ... more Recently, Ales et al. (2019) reported on an eye-tracking study showing that Complexity and other R-PAS variables located in the Engagement and Cognitive Processing domain are correlated with a proxy marker for cognitive effort and engagement. The goal of the current study was to test the robustness and validity of Ales et al.'s (2019) findings by inspecting fMRI data. We hypothesized that the greater the level of engagement and cognitive effort put in place by a Rorschach test-taker, the greater the engagement of his/her cortical areas reflecting ongoing top-down attentional processes should be. We re-analyzed archival fMRI data from 26 healthy participants exposed to the Rorschach inkblots with the instruction to think of what they might be. The association of various Engagement and Cognitive Processing R-PAS scores to increased BOLD signals in the Dorsal Attention Network of the brain was examined. As expected, Complexity showed the strongest effect size across all R-PAS variables under investigation (d = 0.43), followed by Synthesis (d = 0.32) and Human Movement (d = 0.21). Noteworthy, the correlation between the effect sizes found in the current fMRI study and those found in Ales et al.'s (2019) eye-tracking study consists of an impressive r = .80.
Journal of Child Custody, Jul 1, 2014
Although the Rorschach is widely used in child custody evaluations, its contributions are often u... more Although the Rorschach is widely used in child custody evaluations, its contributions are often underestimated. As an evidence-supported, performance-based method, it adds incremental validity to self-report findings. It yields insights about perceptual and coping styles, reality testing and logical thinking, emotional regulation and sensitivity, and relational schemas. Some evaluators hesitate to use the Rorschach due to concerns about reliability and validity, admissibility, and courtroom presentation. R-PAS, a relatively new Rorschach system, shows particular promise in addressing such concerns. It selects and organizes variables according to their degree of empirical support and clinical meaningfulness, uses internationally relevant, nonpathologizing reference data, uses contemporary psychometric statistical methods, and presents results in a format that is easy for a court to understand.
Encyclopedia of Special Education, Jul 15, 2008
Journal of Personality Assessment, Jun 16, 2007
Ninety-eight adult nonpatients from Greece were administered the Rorschach according to the Rorsc... more Ninety-eight adult nonpatients from Greece were administered the Rorschach according to the Rorschach Comprehensive Systems (CS; Exner, 2003) procedures. These participants were of Greek heritage, were older than 21 years of age, and resided in Greece. Participants were residents of an urban area, Athens, as well as residents of provincial areas including smaller cities and villages. The examiner was a native Greek and of Greek heritage and administered the protocols in Greek. Exclusion criteria are described. Interrater reliability statistics at the response level are presented along with scores for CS variables.
Journal of Personality Assessment, Feb 18, 2022
Abstract The special issue editors selected us to form an “adversarial collaboration” because our... more Abstract The special issue editors selected us to form an “adversarial collaboration” because our publications and teaching encompass both supportive and critical attitudes toward the Rorschach and its recently developed system for use, the Rorschach Performance Assessment System (R-PAS). We reviewed the research literature and case law to determine if the Rorschach and specifically R-PAS meet legal standards for admissibility in court. We included evidence on norms, reliability, validity, utility, general acceptance, forensic evaluator use, and response style assessment, as well as United States and selected European case law addressing challenges to mental examination motions, admissibility, and weight. Compared to other psychological tests, the Rorschach is not challenged at unusually high rates. Although the recently introduced R-PAS is not widely referenced in case law, evidence suggests that information from it is likely to be ruled admissible when used by a competent evaluator and selected variables yield scores that are sufficiently reliable and valid to evaluate psychological processes that inform functional psycholegal capacities. We identify effective and ethical but also inappropriate uses (e.g., psychological profiling) of R-PAS in criminal, civil, juvenile, and family court. We recommend specific research to clarify important aspects of R-PAS and advance its utility in forensic mental health assessment.
DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals), 2009
Epidemiological data reveal that schizophrenia is a major world public health problem. It affects... more Epidemiological data reveal that schizophrenia is a major world public health problem. It affects approximately 1% of the adult population, independently from sex and socio-cultural conditions. However, there are differences in gender concerning the onset and the development of this illness. Eighty patients with schizophrenia disorder (F20) by ICD-10, who had experienced a relapse of their illness, were assessed by the Rorschach technique. The results showed statistically significant genders differences in cognitive, affective and interpersonal interaction aspects. These results support earlier findings that found gender differences in schizophrenia: the disorder in male individuals tend to be more severe than in female, which affects adversely the behavior and social functioning of male patients.
Journal of Personality Assessment, Mar 1, 1989
Epidemiological data reveal that schizophrenia is a major world public health problem. It affects... more Epidemiological data reveal that schizophrenia is a major world public health problem. It affects approximately 1% of the adult population, independently from sex and socio-cultural conditions. However, there are differences in gender concerning the onset and the development of this illness. Eighty patients with schizophrenia disorder (F20) by ICD-10, who had experienced a relapse of their illness, were assessed by the Rorschach technique. The results showed statistically significant genders differences in cognitive, affective and interpersonal interaction aspects. These results support earlier findings that found gender differences in schizophrenia: the disorder in male individuals tend to be more severe than in female, which affects adversely the behavior and social functioning of male patients.
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Papers by Donald Viglione