Usefulness of the Rorschach inkblot test in assessment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

The Rorschach inkblot test is commonly used in the psychological evaluation of children. Yet there is little information about the Rorschach performance of children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The responses of 24 children rigorously diagnosed with ADHD were scored using the Exner system and compared with normative data. Given their greater impulsivity, poor attention span, and increased responsivity to external stimuli, we predicted that, when compared to norms, the ADHD group would have more color dominant responses (CF), a lower FC:CF + C ratio, fewer human movement responses (M), lower sumM:WsumC and sumM + WsumC ratios, poorer form quality (X-%), and would have the same number of or more detail (D) responses. The results yielded support only for those hypotheses concerning M, X-%, and sumM:WsumC. Comparisons between small subgroups with and without ODD suggested differences in the frequency of Human but not Aggressive responses. Possible reasons for the discrepancies from predictions are discussed.