ASSESSING INTELLECTUAL-FUNCTIONING IN PERSONS WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA SPECTRUM DISORDERS USING A 7 SUBTEST SHORT-FORM OF THE WAIS-R

The purpose of this study was to examine the concurrent validity of a Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised (WAIS-R) seven subtest short form. Researchers have shown that the IQ scores estimated by this sho rt form correlate highly with full-form IQ scores in several patient p opulations. We compared the full WAIS-R scores with the seven subtest short form estimated IQs in a sample of patients with psychotic disord ers (n = 190). The VIQs, PIQs, and FSIQs estimated by the short form w ere highly correlated with the full form IQs (rs ranging from 0.95 to 0.98). Similar to previous research, the mean difference scores were s mall (ranging from one point to virtually no difference). In general, the seven subtest short form has adequate concurrent validity and is s uitable for assessing intellectual functioning in persons with psychot ic disorders. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.