[Screening for intellectual disability among adults].
BACKGROUND
Instigation of proper measures in case of intellectual disability is often conditioned by a diagnosis. Our aim was to assess whether the Hayes Ability Screening Index (HASI) is a suitable screening instrument for intellectual disability among adults.


METHODS
The article is based on three former studies aimed at validating HASI for use among patients referred for neuropsychological examination, prison inmates and psychiatric inpatients in community mental health centres.


RESULTS
The sample consisted of 264 persons. The HASI correlated with the more comprehensive scales of assessing intellectual functioning (Wechsler tests) (r = 0.73, p < 0.001). With a cut-off value of 85, HASI had a sensitivity of 0.97 and a specificity of 0.61 in relation to an IQ < 70.


CONCLUSIONS
HASI is associated with few false negatives, but a large number of false positives. This implies that an intellectual disability is concluded in too many cases; a positive screening should be followed up with a more thorough assessment.
Søndenaa
Erik
E
Kompetansesenteret for sikkerhets-, fengsels- og rettspsykiatri, Avdeling Brøset, St. Olavs hospital, Postboks 1803 Lade, 7440 Trondheim, Norway. erik.sondenaa@stolav.no
Linaker
Olav
O
Bjørgen
Tale Gjertine
TG
Nøttestad
Jim Aage
JA
D000328:Adult; D003155:Community Mental Health Centers; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000523:psychology; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology; D011594:Psychometrics; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity