Author(s):
Bell, Morris, D., Ph.D.
Author Contact:
Morris D. Bell
VA Connecticut Healthcare System
Psychology Service, 116-B, Campbell Ave.
West Haven, CT, 06516
Citation:
Bell, M.D. (1995) Bell Object Relations and Reality Testing Inventory (BORRTI) Manual. Los Angeles: Western Psychological Services.
To Obtain:
Western Psychological Services
12031 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90025-1251
Phone: 800-648-8857
Fax: 310-478-7838
Email: Morris.Bell@Yale.edu
Website: www.wpspublish.com/Inetpub4/index.htm
Cost: 1.93
Copyright: Yes
Description:
The BORRTI is a widely used measure designed to evaluate individuals for personality and thought disorders. It provides information regarding the "respondent's ability to sustain essential relationships and accurately identify internal and external reality."
It yields scores on four object relations scales: 1) Alienation, 2) Insecure Attachment, 3) Egocentricity, and 4) Social Incompetence. The 45 Object Relations items can be administered separately (Form O). The measure also yields scores on three Reality Testing subscales: 1) Reality Distortion, 2) Uncertainty of Perception, and 3) Hallucinations and Delusions.
The measure includes several validity checks, including an inconsistent responding scale. Interpretation of scores is done by looking at the profile of scores. The manual provides interpretive guidelines for specific profiles. The computerized scoring report profiles scores, makes diagnostic suggestions and treatment recommendations, and lists specific clinical themes including: 1) Doubts About Perceptual Accuracy, 2) Substance Abuse and Disorientation, 3) Irrational Beliefs, 4) Hostility and Self-Centeredness, 5) Mistrust and Humiliation, And 6) Appeasement and Dependency.
The measure has been used with different clinical populations including schizophrenics, eating disorder populations, substance abusers, criminal psychopaths, individuals with PTSD, and individuals with borderline personality disorder. BORRTI scores have also been found to be associated with the quality of the therapeutic relationship.
Representative content from the BORRTI copyright (c) 1995 by Western Psychological Services. Reprinted for reference within the NCTSN Measure Review Database by permission of the publisher, WPS, 12031 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90025, www.wpspublish.com. All rights reserved.
Theoretical Orientation Summary:
Psychoanalytic ego psychology. The measure was originally designed to assess all 12 ego functions described by Bellak, Chassan, Gediman & Marvin, 1973 but was refined to assess object relations and reality testing "because of their centrality to psychopathology and mental health" (Bell, 1995).
Domains Assessed:
Comorbid disorder(s)(child)
Personal/interpersonal functioning (cgiver)
Personal / interpersonal functioning (child)
Trauma-related alterations of expectancies/attitud
Validity (child)
Languages:
Dutch
English (USA)
French
German
Italian
Japanese
Korean
Portuguese
Slovene
Swedish
Age Range: 11-99 Years
Measure Type: Other
Number of Items: 90
Measure Format: Questionnaire
Time to Complete: 15
Reporter: Self
Score Time: 5
Education Level: 6
Periodicity: Not reported
Response Format:
True/False
Materials Needed:
Paper and pencil
Testing stimuli (e.g. pictures, testing kit)
Materials Notes:
Materials Needed: 1) Manual, and 2) FormMaterials offered through WPS (as of 6/05) include:1. Kit: $115 (Includes 20 Full Form Autoscore Forms, 2 WPS Test Report Prepaid BORRTI (Full Form) Mail-In Answer Sheets, Manual.)2. Full Form Autoscore Form (pkg/20): $38.50 (Pricing is based on the purchase of this item.)3. Manual: $48.504. WPS Test Report Computerized Components & Fax Scoring service is also available.The manual indicates that because subscales are calculated using factor scores, scoring needs to be done using a computer or through the WPS Test Report Service. However, the test can be scored using the AutoScore Answer form.While the items can be read aloud to those with visual impairments or inadequate reading skills, the manual cautions that respondents should be fluent in English because there are idiomatic expressions that are not well understood by foreign-born English speakers. In addition, the measure should not be used with those with severe intellectual impairment.The manual notes that although the norms are for ages 18 and older in non-clinical settings, the measure has been administered to students in junior high school, high school, college, and graduate school, and has been used with a variety of patient populations. For this reason, in this review, we give the age range as beginning at age 11.
Sample Items:
| Domain | Scales | Sample |
| Problem Presentation | Psychosis | 0 (Indicates a child with no evidence of thought disturbance. Both thought processes and content are within normal range.) <br/> <br/>1 (Indicates a child with evidence of mild disruption in thought processes or content. The child may be somewhat tangential in speech or evidence somewhat illogical thinking (age inappropriate). This also includes children with a history of hallucinations but none currently. The category would be used for children who are below the threshold for one of the DSM-IV diagnoses listed above.) <br/><br/>2 (Indicates a child with evidence of moderate disturbance in thought processes or content. The child may be somewhat delusional or have brief, intermittent hallucinations. The child's speech may be at times quite tangential or illogical. This level would be used for children who meet the diagnostic criteria for one of the disorders listed above.) <br/><br/>3 (Indicates a child with a severe psychotic disorder. Symptoms are dangerous to the child or others.) |
| Risk Behaviors | Danger to Self | Not Available |
| Family/Caregiver Needs and Strengths | Physical | Not Available |
| Strengths | Family | Not Available |
| Functioning | Intellectual/Developmental | Not Available |
| Care Intensity & Organization | Monitoring | Not Available |
Information Provided:
Areas of concern/risks
Clinician friendly output
Continuous assessment
Graphs
Percentiles
Raw Scores
Standard scores
Strengths
Written feedback from a computer program
