title: Evaluation of an adaptive behaviour classification for mentally retarded adults.
abstract: Adaptive behaviour was assessed in a total of 119 mentally retarded adults by means of the Disability Assessment Schedule (DAS). According to a newly developed classification scheme, the level of handicap was graded on a four-step scale according to the subject's score in adaptive behaviour on the DAS; this was highly correlated both to the Coloured Progressive Matrices (CPM)-IQ (r = 0.75) and the Columbia Mental Maturity (CMM) Scale (r = 0.77). The DAS classification was associated with relevant neuropsychiatric variables. The findings indicate that the DAS classification represents a practicable way for assessing the degree of handicap in mentally retarded adults and could be especially valuable in cases where intelligence testing proves impossible, as was the case for 45% (CPM) and 39% (CMM) of the present sample.
authors.affiliation: Psychiatric Clinic, University of Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Meins
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Süssmann
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007326:Institutionalization; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D007360:Intelligence; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012648:Self Care; D012720:Severity of Illness Index