Study of Correlations Between Electroen-cephalographic and Psychological Patterns in Emotionally Disturbed Children

Abstract

High percentage of abnormal eeg in childhood schizophrenia (78.6%) and in primary behavior disorders (73.4%) suggest defect or developmental retardation in cerebral structures. No relationship exists between eeg abnormality and behavioral patterns such as passivity, aggressiveness, or hyperactivity. Neither is there any relationship between eeg and specific emotional traits as suggested in the Rorschach test. The greater the cerebral dysfunction, as indicated by the eeg, the more abnormal are specific psychological variables dealing with perception, perceptual-motor functions, and the body image. Gross distortions in visual motor Gestalt functions, in body image, and in perceptual and motor functions in general appear related to foci and asymmetries in the eeg, most notably in the occipital areas. The alpha percentage may be related to the accuracy of form perception as reflected by the Rorschach test. This accuracy of perceptual association appears to become impaired in the presence of foci in the eeg, especially occipital foci. The study tends to support Schilder''s contention that organic damage to the brain causes a disturbance in perception and motility and therefore adversely affects the body image. The results are based on examinations of 195 children from the children''s ward of Bellevue Psychiatric Hospital, mostly schizophrenics and cases of primary behavior disorder, ages 5.5-12.5, and a control group of 44 children matched for age and sex but with no demonstrable emotional disturbance.