Thematic apperception test for adolescents (Tat-a) – an explorative study

Abstract

Projective methods have lost significance in child and adolescent psychiatric diagnostics. These methods allow access to important emotional and conflictual topics that can only be determined to a limited extent via diagnostic discussions and questionnaires. The Thematic Apperception Test (TAT-A) has been updated for use in adolescents. For this purpose, special image templates with new motifs were developed, which were redrawn photorealistically in color to increase ambiguity and stimulate imagination. To check the thematic valences, the panels were presented to 184 schoolgirls in Seoul, South Korea, for assessment. The practical suitability and acceptance of the image templates were evaluated on a small clinical German sample (N = 13), and the valences in terms of content were determined by two raters. The results clarify that photorealistic color representation is an appropriate method for this new concept of TAT. In particular, “empty” panels with landscape views initiate meaningful narra-tives, thereby enabling access to personal topics.