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Psychopathology and mental retardation: a study using the Rorschach Inkblot Test
Santo F Di Nuovo1, Serafino Buono, Gerardo Colucci
1Faculty of Education, University of Catania. s.dinuovo@unict.it
Abstract:
The aim of this research was to study the psychological effects of disorders such as schizophrenia and depression associated with mental retardation. The Rorschach Inkblot Test and the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale were administered to a group of 97 subjects (52 women and 45 men) ages 15:10 yr. to 36:6 yr. (M=21:5, SD=5:3). The subjects were divided into four subgroups according to the presence or absence of mental retardation and psychiatric diagnosis (schizophrenia versus depression). The quality of the perception in Rorschach responses and the ErlebnisTypus scores differentiated psychotic and depressed subjects well. These disorders, when associated with mental retardation, make impairment of perceptual performance worse. The interaction between Axis I mental disorders (according to DSM-IV diagnosis) and mental retardation, an Axis II disorder, is discussed.