Landscape Montage Technique as an assessment tool for schizophrenia patients

This paper addresses the application of Landscape Montage Technique (LMT) to art therapy. This study established the interpretation criteria of the LMT as being an effective means of differentiating schizophrenia patients from the general population. Participants comprised 69 healthy adults (29 male, 40 female) and 58 schizophrenia patients (35 male, 23 female). The LMT was conducted from March to September 2009. Data analysis was performed using Cohen's Kappa value and cross tabulation, investigating reliability, agreement between examiners and validity. This study established 29 new interpretation criteria, which consisted of 8 total indices and 21 item indices, with scoring criteria for each index focused on integration, reality testing, and emotional disturbance. This study found that the interpretation criteria of LMT can distinguish between the drawings of schizophrenia patients and those of the healthy adults. Thus, LMT can be an effective tool for assessment of schizophrenia patients.

► Application of Landscape Montage Technique (LMT) to art therapy.
► Establishment of interpretation and scoring criteria for the LMT.
► Comparing drawing characteristics and scoring 127 drawings from healthy adults and schizophrenia patients.
► Higher scores of schizophrenia patients’ LMT than healthy adults’ LMT by interpretation criteria.