Diagnostic value of Warner Schaie's and Robert Heiss' Color Pyramid Test for evaluation of schizophrenic patients' emotionality

Abstract

The aim of the work was the evaluation of formal emotionality features of patients suffering from paranoic schizophrenia in comparison with healthy people. It was assumed that emotionality can be described by means of measurements (excitation, arousal, pleasure – displeasure) and that it is a self-regulating system constituting the background on which other, more complex emotional phenomena can be examined. The emotionality system was examined by means of Schaie and Heiss's Colour Pyramid Test. The whole range of colour choices belonging to the so called syndromes has been analyzed (the normal syndrome, the stimulation syndrome, the drive syndrome, the achromatic syndrome, the turmoil syndrome). What was also examined was the so called sequential formula reflecting the range and stability of the choices. 72 persons suffering from schizophrenia and 49 healthy persons were examined. The schizophrenic patients were choosing achromatic tints for pretty pyramids more often, whereas the normal syndrome was less frequent. Healthy persons were choosing disorganization colours for ugly pyramids. The results have been interpreted as the indicators of the distortions of the emotional system on the level of evaluation and arousal. More differences appeared in the construction of ugly pyramids which may be explained by the reduced control of behaviour. Sex appeared to be another significant variable. Women reacted in a more conventional way (especially the healthy ones); they more frequently expressed their disapproval of disorganization and desire colours in comparison with men. On the other hand, women suffering from schizophrenia, were choosing stimulating colours for ugly pyramid (as if protecting themselves from the excessive stimulation) more frequently than the healthy ones. The analysis of the so called sequential formula has shown that sick persons were characterized by emotional inflexibility and the tendency towards reducing the range of their own reactions.