The Bender-Gestalt Test in Differential Diagnosis of Temporal Lobectomy and Schizophrenia

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Abstract
Twelve epileptic patients with uncontrolled seizures copied Bender-Gestalt (B-G) drawings before and after unilateral temporal lobectomy, as did 12 hospitalized schizophrenics, individually matched to these patients for age, sex and IQ. Twenty clinical psychologists attempted to differentiate 12 pairs of drawings within one of three sets: (a) pre- vs postoperative, (b) preoperative vs schizophrenic, or (c) postoperative vs schizophrenic. Each judgment was accompanied by a certainty rating. None of the judges exceeded chance expectations; the mean correct performance, 65.4%, exceeded chance expectations. There was also no consistent relationship between the certainty ratings and accuracy of judgment. Twenty laymen with no training in psychology correctly differentiated 62.5% of the postoperative from the schizophrenic drawings. This figure exceeded chance expectations and did not differ significantly from that earned by the psychologists. The Pascal-Suttell objective scoring method demonstrated no relationship between scores and seizure frequency and no predictable change after lobectomy. The authors recommend deletion of B-G, whether clinically judged or objectively scored, from the clinician's armanentarium, at least with regard to differential diagnosis of epilepsy or brain damage from schizophrenia.

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