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Differential patterns of responding among three groups of chronic, psychotic, forensic outpatients
Author(s) -
Bannatyne Lynne A.,
Gacono Carl B.,
Greene Roger L.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
journal of clinical psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.124
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1097-4679
pISSN - 0021-9762
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-4679(199912)55:12<1553::aid-jclp12>3.0.co;2-1
Subject(s) - rorschach test , minnesota multiphasic personality inventory , psychopathology , psychology , schizoaffective disorder , clinical psychology , psychiatry , forensic psychiatry , psychometrics , psychosis , personality , social psychology
Elements of response style were examined among three groups of chronic, psychotic, forensic patients: paranoid schizophrenics ( N = 89); undifferentiated‐disorganized schizophrenics ( N = 38); and schizoaffective patients ( N = 53). Forensic patients with elevated MMPI‐2 L Scales produced increased percentages of Pure Form ( F %) on the Rorschach. A similar relationship occurred when the Rorschach was used as the independent measure. Schizoaffective patients reported more psychotic symptoms on the MMPI‐2 and lower F % (Rorschach) than both schizophrenic groups. Although undifferentiated schizophrenics evidenced the most psychopathology on the Rorschach (impaired reality testing and perceptual accuracy disturbance), all three groups produced lower than expected frequencies for Rorschach variables commonly associated with thought disorder and poor reality testing (Exner, 1995b). The clinical importance of using the MMPI‐2 and Rorschach in tandem with forensic psychiatric patients is discussed. Our empirical findings suggest the need for forensic evaluators to consider the important relationship between psychiatric diagnosis and response style (defensiveness, denial, illness chronicity, medications, and concurrent Axis II psychopathology) when interpreting often‐constricted psychological testing protocols in chronic forensic patient populations. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Clin Psychol 55: 1553–1565, 1999.