MULTIPLE-CHOICE VOCABULARY-TEST MWT AS A VALID AND SHORT TEST TO ESTIMATE PREMORBID INTELLIGENCE

The discrepancy between current and premorbid ability is a relevant in dicator of acquired mental impairment, which itself is closely related to general cerebral dysfunction. The use of tests sensitive to cerebr al dysfunction, raises relatively few problems compared with tests bei ng resistent that are used to estimate premorbid mental ability. For p remorbid ability, verbal tests assessing knowledge, especially vocabul ary, have been shown to be valid. A test, possibly more insensitive to brain dysfunction than the ones usually administered, is the multiple choice vocabulary test (MWT = Mehrfachwahl-Wortschatz-Test). At prese nt only German versions are available. They are presented in some deta il because of their advantages. Construction of the MWT is simple, and it can be easily administered in about five minutes. The results corr elate fairly well with global IQ in healthy adults (median of r = 0.72 in 22 samples) and are more insensitive to current disturbances than such tests as the WAIS vocabulary test. The limitations of premorbid t ests with respect to diagnostic validity are discussed. It is conclude d, that studies which do not control premorbid intelligence have to be considered as a ''malpractice'' and should not be accepted by scienti sts.