Comparing intellectual performance of incarcerated, violent schizophrenics to a general population sample using the WAIS-R.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare Intelligence Scale-Revised (WAIS-R) subtest scores for a group of violent schizophrenic inmates (Axis I) and a group of violent schizophrenic inmates who also have a personality disorder (Axis I+ll) with Wechsler's (1958) Schizophrenic and Sociopathic diagnostic characteristics in an attempt to validate these two profiles. Additionally, a control group of nonviolent, nonschizophrenics was used in the comparison. Participants' scaled scores from the WAIS-R were also examined for significant differences among the groups. Each sample group contained 12 men with a mean age of 37.5 and the control group also consisted of 12 men with a mean age of 27. The WAIS-R was administered to all the participants and the scores for the 11 subtests were recorded. Other recorded information included history of prior crimes, the types(s) of the current offense{s), use of mind-altering chemicals prior to the offense(s), employment, and use of medication for schizophrenia. Each participant's scaled scores were converted into average deviations and compared to Wechsler's scoring criteria for the diagnostic profiles. Frequency counts of correct hits on the profiles were tallied and reported for each group. Eleven one way ANOVAs were separately performed on the average deviations and the WAIS-R scaled scores among the three groups. Wechsler's diagnostic profiles were not supported by this research study. All three groups had approximately the same number of hits on the profiles, and thus, the profiles could not accurately identify schizophrenic or sociopathic individuals. A review of the ANOVA's computed for the average deviations indicated that the differences among the groups were so minimal that virtually no difference exists between schizophrenics and nonschizophrenics. Average deviations describe performance consistency between subtests. The ANOVAs computed for the scaled scores revealed that the control group's mean IQ is significantly higher than the mean IQ of both of the schimphrenic groups. Lastly, the added diagnosis of a personality disorder as specified in the Axis 1+11 group did not differentiate from the Axis I group who have the sole diagnosis of schizophrenia.