An empirical study of malingering schizophrenia on the Rorschach.

We investigated whether it is possible to fake schizophrenia on the Rorschach test. We also developed and attempted to validate variables (modified responses) that might distinguish malingerers from true schizophrenics. Forty nonschizophrenic, nonpatient subjects, randomly assigned to either a control or malingering condition, and 20 schizophrenic subjects were administered the Rorschach. Dependent variables included indices associated with schizophrenia and modified responses. As expected, some malingering subjects did successfully fake schizophrenia. Modified responses did help to distinguish groups but were not completely successful. Post hoc analyses of differences were also presented. We concluded (a) that some malingerers, given some information about schizophrenia, may successfully fake schizophrenia and (b) that the modified responses show promise in assisting detection of malingering.