To cut a short test even shorter: Reliability and validity of a brief assessment of intellectual ability in Schizophrenia—a control-case family study

BACKGROUND: The potential inclusion of cognitive assessments in the DSM-V and large time-consuming assessments drive a need for short tests of cognitive impairments. We examined the reliability and validity of a brief, 15-minute, version of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-III (WAIS-III). METHODS: The sample consisted of patients diagnosed with schizophrenia (n=75), their siblings without schizophrenia (n=74) and unrelated healthy controls (n=84). A short WAIS-III consists of the Digit Symbol Coding subtest, and every second (or third) item of Block Design, Information, and Arithmetic. Psychometric analyses were implemented using item-response theory (IRT) to determine the best minimal item short version, while maintaining the sensitivity and reliability of the IQ score. RESULTS: The proposed 15-minute WAIS-III gave reliable estimates of the Full Scale IQ (FSIQ) in all three groups in the sample. The 15-minute (select-item) version yielded an overall R of.95 (R(2)=.92) and IRT yielded an R of .96 (R(2)=.92). All four subtests performed well in differentiating patients, relatives, and healthy controls. Multivariate analysis showed a significant difference in FSIQ-estimate between patients, relatives, and healthy controls, F(2, 202) = 19.00, p < .0001. Regression modelling showed that the three versions of the WAIS had similar associations with functional outcome after a 3-year follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Our proposed 15-minute version of the WAIS may serve as a useful screening device for general intellectual ability in research or clinical settings, and is recommended when a quick and accurate IQ estimate is desired.