Single-sign Rorschach suicide indicators: a validity study using a depressed inpatient population.

This study attempted to test the validity of using single responses on the Rorschach as indicators of current suicidal risk. Forty-one depressed inpatients were administered the Rorschach along with a concurrent measure of depression and suicidality. Appelbaum and Holzman's (1962) color-shading sign was found to be related to low suicidal risk, whereas Blatt and Ritzler's (1974) transparency sign was found to be unrelated to current suicidal risk, but still related to a past history of suicide attempts. Patients who saw these signs while depressed were also likely to see them when recovered, suggesting that the signs may indicate a "suicidal personality" who may or may not be in any immediate danger of committing suicide.