USEFULNESS OF THE RORSCHACH INKBLOT TEST IN ASSESSMENT OF ATTENTION-DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER

The Rorschach inkblot test is commonly used in the psychological evalu ation of children. Yet there is little information about the Rorschach performance of children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The responses of 24 children rigorously diagnosed with ADHD w ere scored using the Exner system and compared with normative data. Gi ven their greater impulsivity, poor attention span, and increased resp onsivity to external stimuli, we predicted that, when compared to norm s, the ADHD group would have more color dominant responses (CF), a low er FC:CF+C ratio, fewer human movement responses (M), lower sumM:WsumC and sumM + WsumC ratios, poorer form quality (X-%), and would have th e same number of or more detail (D) responses. The results yielded sup port only for those hypotheses concerning M, X-%, and sumM:WsumC. Comp arisons between small subgroups with and without ODD suggested differe nces in the frequency of Human but not Aggressive responses. Possible reasons for the discrepancies from predictions are discussed.