NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF RELATIVELY INTACT INDIVIDUALS - PSYCHOMETRIC LESSONS FROM AN HIV+ SAMPLE

The assessment of relatively intact individuals poses special problems for neuropsychologists, because fine discriminations are often needed to identify subtle deficits or gradual declines in performance. Many neuropsychological tests, however; are not well-suited for making such exact discriminations. 117 HIV+ individuals were administered 26 diff erent neuropsychological tests that produce 48 scores. Measures of ske wness mid kurtosis were used to identify nonnormal sampling distributi ons, While many tests showed good sampling distributions, several demo nstrated ceiling effects and other restrictions of range. This include d some tests, such as Boston Naming and Lafayette Grooved Pegboard, th at are not ordinarily considered screening instruments. Such nonnormal distributions distort the interperation of clinical and research data , min indicate a need to use tests that are suited to the abilities of the population being assessed. (C) 1997 National Academy of Neuropsyc hology. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.