Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 10, 2026

Handwriting Analysis Indicates Spontaneous Dyskinesias in Neuroleptic Naïve Adolescents at High Risk for Psychosis
05:52

Handwriting Analysis Indicates Spontaneous Dyskinesias in Neuroleptic Naïve Adolescents at High Risk for Psychosis

Published on: November 21, 2013

Rorschach Developmental Level in the offspring of patients with schizophrenia and manic-depressive illness

J Worland

    Journal of Personality Assessment
    |December 1, 1979
    PubMed

    Insights

    Children with a schizophrenic parent scored lower on the Developmental Level (DL) from Rorschach tests. This finding suggests a potential impact of parental mental illness on child development, even when controlling for other factors.

    Area of Science:

    • Child Psychology
    • Developmental Psychology
    • Psychopathology

    Background:

    • Parental mental illness is a significant risk factor for child developmental outcomes.
    • The Rorschach inkblot test is a tool used to assess psychological development.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the impact of parental mental illness on children's cognitive and emotional development.
    • To compare the Developmental Level (DL) scores of children with parents suffering from schizophrenia, manic-depressive disorder, physical illness, or no diagnosed illness.

    Main Methods:

    • Developmental Level (DL) scores were obtained from Rorschach inkblot tests administered to 305 children.
    • Children were categorized based on parental psychiatric status: schizophrenic, manic-depressive, physically ill, or normal.
    • Socioeconomic status, age, and intelligence were utilized as covariates in the analysis.

    Main Results:

    • Children with one schizophrenic parent exhibited significantly lower DL scores compared to children in the other three groups.
    • No significant differences in DL scores were found between children of manic-depressive, physically ill, or normal parents.

    Conclusions:

    • Parental schizophrenia is associated with lower developmental levels in offspring.
    • These findings highlight the importance of considering parental psychiatric history in assessing child development.

    More Related Videos

    Measurement of Fronto-limbic Activity Using an Emotional Oddball Task in Children with Familial High Risk for Schizophrenia13:08

    Measurement of Fronto-limbic Activity Using an Emotional Oddball Task in Children with Familial High Risk for Schizophrenia

    Published on: December 2, 2015

    Use of a Video Scoring Anchor for Rapid Serial Assessment of Social Communication in Toddlers09:16

    Use of a Video Scoring Anchor for Rapid Serial Assessment of Social Communication in Toddlers

    Published on: March 14, 2018

    Related Concept Videos

    Negative and Cognitive Symptoms of Schizophrenia01:30

    Negative and Cognitive Symptoms of Schizophrenia

    Negative symptoms of schizophrenia indicate a reduction or absence of typical behaviors and emotional responses found in healthy individuals, while positive symptoms reflect an excess or distortion of normal functioning.
    Negative Symptoms
    Negative symptoms of schizophrenia manifest as deficits in normal emotional and behavioral functioning, profoundly impacting daily life. Individuals with schizophrenia often display a flat affect, characterized by a near-total absence of emotional expression,...
    Biological Causes of Schizophrenia01:29

    Biological Causes of Schizophrenia

    Schizophrenia, a severe psychiatric disorder, arises from a complex interplay of biological factors, including genetic predisposition, structural brain abnormalities, neurotransmitter dysregulation, and developmental irregularities. These factors collectively contribute to the onset and progression of the disorder, which typically manifests in late adolescence or early adulthood.
    Genetic Factors in Schizophrenia
    The genetic basis of schizophrenia is strongly supported by family and twin studies.