A comparative study of results of Bender Visual-Motor Gestalt Test-Second edition, in schizophrenic patients and healthy controls

Abstract

Objective : To investigate the differences in test results from the Bender Visual-Motor Gestalt Test – Second Edition in schizophrenic patients and healthy controls.

Materials and methods : The study groups were 35 schizophrenic patients and 35 healthy controls. The purposive sampling was used, which both groups were matched on age and sex. The data analysis consisted of descriptive statistic and inferential statistic using pair t-test for analyzing the differences
in test results between both groups.

Results : For Global Standard Score, it was found that schizophrenic patients had lower standard scores than normal controls in copy phase and recall phase. In the part of the supplemental tests, the results indicated that schizophrenic patients had lower scores than normal controls in Motor Test and
Perception Test.

Conclusion : The Bender Visual - Motor Gestalt Test - Second Edition is able to demonstrate differences in the responses and test results between schizophrenic patients and normal controls. These implied that patients with schizophrenia have abnormalities in brain function, which differed from normal controls. Thus the Bender Visual - Motor Gestalt Test - Second Edition would be an alternative instrument for clinical psychologists for diagnosing and planning the treatment for patients with schizophrenia in the future.