Deviant Responses as Indicators of Depression and Character Disorder

Abstract

This study was undertaken to determine if scales for measuring depression and character disorder could be constructed using deviant response as measured by the Perceptual Reaction Test (PRT). Scale development and validation employed 1000 normal individuals and 113 abnormal individuals. Groups of individuals psychiatrically identified as depressive individuals and character disorders were compared with groups from the general population on the PRT. The results indicated that reliable scales for measuring depression and character disorder could be developed ultilizing deviant responses. It is concluded that deviant responses as measured by the PRT are related to personality factors, and they can be used to assess depression and character disorder.