A cross-cultural study of selected Rorschach indices of Chinese and American normal and schizophrenic subjects

Rorschach protocols were obtained from four groups (Chinese Normal, Chinese Schizophrenic, American Normal, and American Schizophrenic subjects) and scored using the Burstein and Loucks system (1989). Ten variables were selected from the Burstein and Loucks system for comparing subject groups, including F%, F+%, B+%, Afr, CR, PT, VP, (VP), PSD, and LD. These variables reflect aspects of objectivity, subjectivity, and thought disorder. Each variable was analyzed with the ANOVA, comparing the groups made by contrasting Culture and Mental Status factors. Results showed that all four groups of subjects gave statistically similar levels of pure form responses, even though the American Schizophrenic subjects' mean F% appeared clinically lower than the other three groups. Schizophrenics, regardless of cultural origin, gave lower Affective Ratios compared to Normal subjects. American Schizophrenics scored significantly differently than American Normal subjects on 8 American Schizophrenic out of 10 variables investigated. subjects consistently contributed extremely high scores on the Perceptual-Cognitive variables, while American Normal, Chinese Normal, and Chinese Schizophrenic subjects generated relatively low mean scores. Chinese Schizophrenics did not appear to display thought disorder, as measured by these Burstein and Loucks variables. Also, Chinese Schizophrenics had significantly higher mean scores than American Schizophrenics on the two reality testing variables. However, Chinese Schizophrenics had a significantly lower B+% than both normal groups. Overall, Chinese and American Schizophrenic subjects showed dramatic differences in their scoring patterns, with Chinese Schizophrenics appearing much less pathological. However, Chinese Schizophrenic subjects could be distinguished from both Chinese Normal subjects and American Normal subjects using Afr and B+% variables. This research confirms the usefulness of the Burstein and Loucks Rorschach scoring system for detecting schizophrenic cognition in Americans and Chinese. Results are discussed in terms of cultural influences on the subjects and problems in the method.