Differential performance patterns on bender Bender Gestalt test among schizophrenia patients, brain damaged and normal individuals

The objective of the present study is to observe the difference in the performance of schizophrenia, brain damage patients and normal individuals in their performance on Bender Gestalt Test. Research Design: Comparative study. Lahore. The study is based upon deviation patterns of Bender Gestalt Test protocols of 90 schizophrenic, brain damaged and normal [30 in each group] males in the age range of 20-60 years. The sample of 30 normal males was selected randomly from Lahore City, where as 30 schizophrenics, and 30 brain damaged were selected from different hospitals of Lahore. The Bender Gestalt Test was administered and scored through Pascal and Suttell [1951] system. With the help of One Way Analysis of Variance [ANOVA] differences among three groups were explored for the total score and for configuration scores. Results reflects significant difference among three groups on total score at bender gestalt, F [2, 87] =101.82, p<.001; and for configuration scores, F [2, 87] =53.09, p<.001, with higher means associated with brain damaged individuals, and the lowest mean scores produced by normal individuals. Bender Gestalt is an effective tool to discriminate brain damage and schizophrenic patients to normal, as well as to each other. Few of its type of deviation seems sensitive to brain damage, and thus can be fine discriminator between brain damage and schizophrenia patients; for which further research is recommended

General self efficacy and perceived social support in psychiatric patients

To determine the difference between the Psychiatric patients and normal group on the variable of General Self-Efficacy and Multidimensional Perceived Social Support A between group design. Psychiatric out patients including depressive and anxiety disorders were selected. After detailed literature review it was hypothesized that, 1] Psychiatric patients would score lower on the variable of general self-efficacy as compared to control group; and 2] Psychiatric patients would score lower on the variable of perceived social support as compared to control group. The sample consisted of two groups with equal number of psychiatric patients [n 30] and normal participants [n=30]. Each group comprised of equal number of males and females. The age range of both groups was from 25 to 40 years and minimum educational level was Matric [10 years of study]. General Self Efficacy Scale1 and Multidimensional Perceived Social Support Scale[2] were administered to assess the level of self efficacy and social support of psychiatric patients and normal group respectively, [t] test was applied to determine difference between psychiatric patients and normal group on the variable of general self efficacy and perceived social support. results showed the significant difference between Psychiatric patients and normal group on the variable of general self efficacy [t=8.132, df:=58, p < .05] and perceived social support [t= 6.095, df =58, p < .05]. Findings reflect that psychiatric patients have low level of general self efficacy and perceived social support as compared to normal group

Diagnostic markers for identification of schizophrenia and brain damaged individuals on Bender Gestalt test

The objective of the present study is to explore the diagnostic markers on Bender Gestalt Test for the identification of schizophrenia and brain damaged patients. The study explores specific deviation patterns on Bender Gestalt Test protocols of 30, schizophrenic and 30 brain damaged males with age ranges 20-60 years. The sample selected from different hospitals of Lahore. The Bender Gestalt Test was administered and scored through Pascal and Suttell [1951] system. However recorded deviations were scored according to Hutt [1969, 1977] and Bender [1938]. 34 deviation patterns were recorded and studied. With the help oft test difference among schizophrenic and brain damaged patients were explored for the 34 deviations. Results reflects significant difference between groups on 13 deviation patterns with higher mean associated with brain damaged individuals, while on 6 deviation patterns with higher mean associated with schizophrenic individuals. For remaining 15 patterns difference remains not significant

Gender differences in non verbal reasoning skills

The objective of present study is to investigate the difference between the male and female adolescents on a test ofnon verbal abstract reasoning skills, specifically with reference to age, that is in adolescents of age ranges 12 to 14 years, and in adolescents with age ranges between 15 to 18 years. In the present study 402 adolescent students participated, with age in the range of 12 to 18 years. Among these 402 students 230 were males while 172 were females. Data was obtained with the permission of the authorities from various educational institutes of Rawalpindi and Lahore city. Demographic information was obtained followed by administration of Standard Progressive Matrices, a test ofnon verbal reasoning. Data was analyzed for gender differences by use oft test on .05 level of significance. Results reflect non significant gender differences on non verbal reasoning skills, however, for while distributing data in two groups that is adolescents aged 12 to 14 years, and adolescents aged 15 to 18 years, the difference in the first group was in favor of females, yet not significant. While for the later age group the difference was significant and is in favor of males. The gender differences in non verbal reasoning abilities are subjected to age. Further research considering more age ranges will be more conclusive