Conception and representation of space in human figure drawings by schizophrenic and normal subjects.

Seventy hospitalized schizophrenic adults, and 71 normal subjects were given a test consisting of six human figure drawings, arranged in a thematic sequence from a self-portrait to a drawing of a person. The structural components of each human figure were scored and analyzed in an attempt to validate their projective character and to examine influence of psychopathology on cognition. Findings indicated similar constructional trends for both groups, with differences particular to sex, rather than a diagnostic category. It was concluded that conception and representation of space and its configurations will not be influenced by psychopathological processes.