Interpersonal dependency and personality pathology: Variations in Rorschach Oral Dependency scores across Axis II diagnoses

Although several investigations have examined the relationship of Rorschach Oral Dependency (ROD; Masling, Rabie, & Blondheim, 1967) scores to Axis I diagnosis, there has been very little research assessing variations in ROD scores across Axis LI personality disorders (PDs), In this study, ROD score s were compared in 5 PD groups (borderline PD inpatients, borderline PD out patients, avoidant-dependent PD outpatients, narcissistic PD outpatients, a nd antisocial PD outpatients), and 2 non-PD comparison groups (psychotic di sorder inpatients and college students). Borderline PD inpatients had signi ficantly higher ROD scores than borderline PD outpatients, antisocial PD ou tpatients, and college students; no other between-group differences were fo und. We discuss implications of these results for research on dependency an d Axis II psychopathology and offer suggestions for future studies.