The National Adult Reading Test as a measure of premorbid IQ in schizophrenia

Abstract

Use of a word-reading test such as the NART to predict past levels of intellectual function should proceed with caution, particularly where IQ does not fall in the 'average' category. Use of more than one index of prior level of function is recommended.

Cannabis users have higher premorbid IQ than other patients with first onset psychosis

“…Finally, we are aware that reading-based tests have some limitations as a measure of premorbid IQ (Russell et al, 2000;O'Connor et al, 2012). However, WTAR is thought to be a more reliable measure of pre-morbid IQ (Green et al, 2008) compared to other tests like the NART (National Adult Reading Test) (Nelson and Willison, 1991) and is able to indicate a "hold" intellectual capacity (Cattel, 1971).…”

Estimating Intelligence in Spanish: Regression Equations With the Word Accentuation Test and Demographic Variables in Latin America

“…These tests have shown high correlations with IQ in normal participants (Crawford, Stewart, Cochrane, Parker, & Bensson, 1989;Schretlen, Buffington, Meyer, & Pearlson, 2005) and no significant change in prodromal and initial phases of a neurodegenerative disease (Carlozzi et al, 2011), mild and mild-tomoderate dementia (Bright, Jaldow, & Kopelman, 2002;Deary, Whally, & Crawford, 2004;Fromm, Holland, Nebes, & Oakley, 1991;Maddrey, Cullum, Weiner, & Filley, 1996;Matsuoka, Uno, Kasai, Koyama, & Kim, 2006;McGurn et al, 2004;Sharpe & O'Carroll, 1991), traumatic brain injury (Crawford, Besson & Parker, 1988;Green et al, 2008;Moss & Dowd, 1991;Watt & O'Carroll, 1999), and psychiatric disorders (Crawford, Besson, Parker, Sutherland, & Keen, 1987;O'Carroll et al, 1992). Although there is evidence of change in long-term medicated schizophrenia (Russell et al, 2000) and dementia with initial language deficits (Paque & Warrington, 1995;Stebbins, Gilley, Wilson, Bernard, & Fox, 1990), these correspond to stages in long-term deteriorating diseases in which language is affected; most other studies have shown the stability of performance in spite of other deficits. Reading aloud irregular words as an approach to IQ estimation has become so much a ''gold standard'' that the Wechsler battery has conormed a 50-item version (Wechsler Test of Adult Reading [WTAR]; Wechsler, 2001b).…”

Cognitive Functioning in Euthymic Bipolar Patients on Monotherapy with Novel Antipsychotics or Mood Stabilizers

“…The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised (WAIS-R) Information subtest was used as an approximation of premorbid cognition (19,20). The Vocabulary subtest was not used for this purpose, since Vocabulary scores may not reflect premorbid cognition in patient populations whose cognition is likely to be impaired (21). However, standard reading tests of premorbid cognition would depend less on the individual' s level of knowledge in phonemic languages.…”

“…The Digit Symbol Substitution, Arithmetic, and Block Design subtests of the WAIS-R were used to provide measures of psychomotor speed, working memory, and visuospatial abilities (22). These functions as measured using the WAIS-R subtests are considered more sensitive to illness effects or any CNS insult (21). A trained psychologist who was blinded to the medication applied neuropsychological assessments, and all tests were performed in the morning hours.…”