The American Psychiatric Association (APA) has updated its Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, including with new information specifically addressed to individuals in the European Economic Area. As described in the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, this website utilizes cookies, including for the purpose of offering an optimal online experience and services tailored to your preferences.

Please read the entire Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. By closing this message, browsing this website, continuing the navigation, or otherwise continuing to use the APA's websites, you confirm that you understand and accept the terms of the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, including the utilization of cookies.

×
ArticleNo Access

AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF MENTAL PATIENTS THROUGH THE AUTOKINETIC PHENOMENON

Published Online:https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.103.6.793

The autokinetic phenomenon is the visual experience of apparent movement of a stationary object, and can be observed most effectively by looking at a fixed pin-point light in a totally dark room.

The phenomenon is offered here as a projective measure of personality structure, and in this sense is used as a diagnostic indicator in mental illness. The test has a proven high reliability. An index figure into which various aspects of the movement pattern is calculated is used for each subject. The movement is more pronounced in schizophrenia, epilepsy, psychasthenia, neurasthenia and anxiety states. In the manic-depressive and involutional psychoses, and in conversion hysteria, movement is, as a rule, either absent or much less extensive.

Atypical test results are discussed in the light of more detailed diagnostic opinions of the staff of the hospital in which the tests were given. Prognostic indications are found in the extent and patterns of movement. Limited or medium amount of movement may be considered prognostically more favorable than extensive or no movement. Fairly accurate limits, expressed in indices, have been established in this connection. Erratic movement patterns presage, on the average, a less favorable course of illness. Sex differences are shown in that more men than women observe autokinetic movement.

Under comments some implications and analogies are presented to show relationships between autokinesis and mental disturbances, and some suggestions are offered for further investigation.

Access content

To read the fulltext, please use one of the options below to sign in or purchase access.