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The Broken Glass Syndrome and its Recovery Preliminary Findings from the Rorschach and Self Reports

Abstract

This symposium is dedicated to the emerging concept of "The Broken Glass Syndrome" within the field of psychology, with a subtle nod to the literary work of Lewis Carroll. This condition generated significant interest within the International Rorschach Institute. It is identified by the joint presence of reflection and morbid responses in the Rorschach. It does not match exactly with existing descriptions of narcissistic/borderline functioning, and it poses both a challenge and an enigma. The symposium serves as a scholarly forum for the exploration of this intriguing phenomenon, featuring some research findings from the Rorschach and self-report measures and three clinical illustrations. Preliminary research outcomes drawn from a population of N=1,275 U.S. adolescent inpatients (aged 13 to 18 years) with the Rorschach and self-report measures will be presented, shedding light on the correlates of "The Broken Glass Syndrome." These findings aim to contribute to the nascent body of knowledge surrounding this phenomenon. Additionally, three case studies will be presented to illustrate this condition: (1) An English non-binary individual raised in a religious cult, suffering from abuse and complex trauma assessed with the Rorschach CS, The Group Psychological Abuse scale, the MMPI-2, and the TSI-2; (2) A 17-year-old well-adjusted Italian applying for an aviation pilot's license, revealing unexpected results on the Rorschach CS, the WAIS IV, and MMPI-A; and (3) A 21-year-old suicidal Japanese young woman assessed with the Rorschach CS, WAIS, POMS (Profile of Mood State), and Uchida-Kraepelin Performance Test, who ultimately experienced recovery following two years of therapy. "The Broken Glass Syndrome" represents a novel area of inquiry with significant implications for identity, self-image, and trauma. In this symposium, our primary objective is to define, conceptualize, and establish a foundational understanding of this condition, acknowledging its theoretical complexities and potential clinical implications.

Chair

Patrick Fontan | Education Nationale (France) - Cachan

Goals & Objectives
  1. Define, conceptualize, and establish a foundational understanding for the Broken Glass Syndrome.
  2. Analyze correlates of the Broken Glass Syndrome in an Adolescent Inpatient Psychiatric sample.
  3. Illustrate the Broken Glass Syndrome through 3 case studies.
  4. Describe the process of recovery from the “Broken Glass Syndrome” through the use of multiple assessment data. 
David Pogge, Four Winds Hospital, John Stokes, Pace University, New York, NY and Patrick Fontan, Education Nationale (France) - Cachan
The Broken Glass Syndrome as a Response to Trauma in a Non-Binary Individual raised in a religious Cult
Kari Carstairs, Carstairs Psychological Associates
    The search for the re-composition of a destroyed face
    Maria Gazale, Milan university
      Healing the Brokenness : a Two Years Therapeutic Process
      Noriko Nakamura, Asian-Pacific Center for Therapeutic Assessment
      Non-Member Price: $109
      Member Price: $49