THE DYSKINESIA IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM CONDENSED USER SCALE (DISCUS) - RELIABILITY, VALIDITY, AND A TOTAL SCORE CUTOFF FOR MENTALLY-ILL AND MENTALLY-RETARDED POPULATIONS

Items means and standard deviations, reliability, and validity for the Dyskinesia Identification System Condensed User Scale (DISCUS) are pr esented for mentally ill and mentally retarded populations. A total sc ore cut-off was developed and tested against physician diagnosis and t he Research Diagnoses for Tardive Dyskinesia (RD-TD; Schooler & Kane, 1982). DISCUS total score reliability was .92 for mentally ill and .91 for mentally retarded individuals. The DISCUS total score was signifi cantly greater for 108 diagnosed tardive dyskinesia (TD) cases compare d to 108 matched controls. The DISCUS total score of 5 or above was as sociated significantly with physician TD diagnosis and the RD-TD inten sity criterion. The psychometrically derived DISCUS cut-off score of 5 or above is a ''red flag'' that clinicians may use in monitoring indi viduals prescribed antipsychotic medication for TD.