Assessing intellectual functioning in persons with schizophrenia spectrum disorders using a seven 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 short form correlate highly with full-form IQ scores in several patient populations. We compared the full WAIS-R scores with the seven subtest short form estimated IQs in a sample of patients with psychotic disorders (n = 190). The VIQs, PIQs, and FSIQs estimated by the short form were highly correlated with the full form IQs (rs ranging from 0.95 to 0.98). Similar to previous research, the mean difference scores were small (ranging from one point to virtually no difference). In general, the seven subtest short form has adequate concurrent validity and is suitable for assessing intellectual functioning in persons with psychotic disorders. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.