The relationship of the Rorschach schizophrenia index to psychotic features in a child psychiatric sample

In this study we investigated the reliability and validity of the Rorschach Schizophrenia Index (SCZI) from Exner's (1978, 1993) Comprehensive System for a sample of 413 child psychiatric inpatients by examining relationships with the Personality Inventory for Children-Revised (PIC-R) and chart diag noses. Interscorer reliability and internal consistency were acceptable. Mu ltivariate analyses of variance results revealed significantly different PI C-R profiles for those with and without elevated SCZI scores, with signific ant differences emerging on the PIC-R Psychosis (PSY) scale and 2 cognitive triad scales (Intellectual Screening and Development), which have been rep orted to be more frequently elevated in PIC-R profiles of children with psy chotic disorders. Significant differences were found across SCZI groups for the PSY scale, Reality Distortion scale, reality testing critical items an d chart diagnoses of psychotic disorder. Implications for clinical interpre tation of the SCZI with children and issues for further research with this population are discussed.