An investigation into disordered adolescents by means of the Brook Reaction Test

Three groups of psychologically disordered male adolescents were matched with controls for age and intelligence, on a one-to-one basis. Group a (n = 83) comprised delinquents, this designation being determined by a history of at least one court conviction. All of these were in borstals or approved schools. Group b (n = 65) were delinquent-and-disturbed: these too had had at least one court conviction and, in addition, they were having psychiatric treatment. Members of group b were also in institutions: these included psychiatric hospitals and prisons, as well as borstals and approved schools. Group c (n = 41) consisted of 'disturbed-only' youths: they had had no convictions but were receiving psychiatric treatment. Each group covered a very wide range of intelligence. All the subjects took the Brook Reaction Test, the aim of the inquiry being to ascertain whether this test differentiates (scored blind) between the experimental groups and their controls. Significant differentiation was found on the following Brook indices: (1) Number of points gained on questionable responses; (2) type of questionable response given; (3) sexual responses; (4) pattern of interests. In all six groups richness of interests proved to be associated with high intelligence.