Related Experiment Videos
Changes in primary process expression in hospitalized schizophrenics treated with phenothiazines: two projective
The Journal of Genetic Psychology
|March 1, 1977
Summary
The Five Minute Verbalization Task (FMV) better reflects clinical changes in schizophrenia patients than the Rorschach test. FMV scores correlated with symptom improvement, unlike Rorschach scores.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Schizophrenia is characterized by primary process thinking.
- Assessing clinical status in schizophrenia requires reliable measurement tools.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the utility of the Five Minute Verbalization Task (FMV) and the Rorschach test in measuring primary process thinking in schizophrenia.
- To determine which measure better reflects clinical improvement during treatment.
Main Methods:
- Administered the FMV and Rorschach to 36 schizophrenia patients (newly hospitalized, on phenothiazines) at multiple time points.
- Scored primary process thinking using the Holt system.
- Assessed clinical improvement using the Lorr IMPS and Burdock Ward Behavior Scale.
Main Results:
- Primary process scores decreased significantly on the FMV over 13 weeks, but not on the Rorschach.
- FMV scores, unlike Rorschach scores, paralleled measures of clinical improvement.
- Factor analysis indicated FMV and Rorschach scores related to distinct symptom clusters.
Conclusions:
- The FMV is more effective than the Rorschach for tracking clinical improvement in schizophrenia.
- The Rorschach may offer insights into the specific nature of primary process thinking in this population.