Deviant responses as indicators of immaturity and schizophrenia.

Abstract

The study was to determine whether groups differing in chronological age could show a difference in response patterns on the Perceptual Reaction Test (PRT). The results support the hypothesis that the response patterns of normal, young children to the PRT are significantly different from those of normal adults. The patterns appear more like those of adult schizophrenics than of normal adults. It was concluded that response patterns of the PRT are related to chronological age, at least in the case of normal children, and some common factor or factors such as immaturity must exist between the 2 groups. Deviant response patterns of normal children could be used to assess maturity. 24 refs.