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An Experimental Study of Pictures Produced by Acute Schizophrenic Subjects

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

Stephen Russell-Lacy ,
Victoria Robinson ,
Janet Benson  and
Janet Cranage
Stephen Russell-Lacy
Affiliation:
Salford Area Health Authority, Prestwich Hospital, Manchester
Victoria Robinson
Affiliation:
Darlington Memorial Hospital
Janet Benson
Affiliation:
Northern Regional Health Authority
Janet Cranage
Affiliation:
Northern Regional Health Authority
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Summary

The purpose of this study was to examine the validity of assessing pictures produced by acute schizophrenic subjects as a technique in differential diagnosis. It was hypothesized that art productions by schizophrenics differ from those both by other acute psychiatric patients and by ‘normals'. Coloured slides were made from pictures produced in standardized conditions by three samples each of thirty subjects. It was found that repetition of abstract forms was the only factor studied to be associated specifically with schizophrenia; whereas the presence of pictorial imbalance, overelaboration, childlike features, uncovered space, detail and colour variety were found to be associated with psychiatric admission irregardless of diagnosis. Doubt is cast on the use of art as a technique in differential psychiatric diagnosis.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 134 , Issue 2 , February 1979 , pp. 195 - 200
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1979 

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