title: Assessment of clinical status of schizophrenic patients by the WAIS comprehension subtest.
abstract: A previous study indicated that the Comprehension subtest of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) might be a sensitive instrument for evaluating mental status in schizophrenic patients. To test this hypothesis, 3 groups of subjects were given the WAIS Comprehension subtest repeatedly at brief intervals. The results indicate that for a given individual (normal control or stable chronic schizophrenic), scores do not increase even with 4 consecutive weeks of testing. In contrast, a group of schizophrenic patients tested shortly after readmission and again after being established on neuroleptic medication showed a marked improvement in scores which, somewhat surprisingly, were not correlated with changes in global ratings of disordered thinking by the treating psychiatrist. This standardized test may offer a convenient objective technique for quantifying some aspects of thinking in schizophrenic patients.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D014888:Wechsler Scales
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents