Application of the four-subtest WAIS-R short form with an older clinical sample

Investigated the validity of the Arithmetic + Vocabulary + Picture Arrangement + Block Design subtest combination as an estimate of the WAIS-R Full Scale IQ in a sample of 55 elderly patients. The correlation between the short-form IQ and the WAIS-R Full Scale IQ was highly significant, r(53) = .95, p less than .001. A pairwise t-test computed between the mean IQs for the two forms was nonsignificant, t(54) less than 1. Approximately one-fourth of the Ss showed changes in intelligence classification levels when the short form was used. The short form does not provide a precise estimate of IQ; however, it appears to have clinical utility as a screening device to identify patients with atypical cognitive functioning. The short form correctly categorized 84% of the current sample with respect to the presence or absence of abnormalities on the full WAIS-R.