Separation and depressive problem in late adolescence: Evaluation with the projective tests

The aim of this study is to get information about the relationship between depression and the separation-individuation process in late adolescence. Separation individuation is an important developmental task of adolescence. The study is carried out with a total of 34 volunteer participants, 17 women and 17 men, who were diagnosed with depression and aged between 19-25. After psychoanalytical interviews, Rorschach Test and Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) were applied. The applied materials have been interpreted with content analysis peculiar to French School. Results of statistical and content analyses are that late adolescents who are diagnosed with depression, have a symbiotic type relation and difficulties in separation from the object. It has been observed that late adolescents have depressive affects due to narcissistic failure.