Clinical utility of a seven subtest WAIS-R short form in the neuropsychological assessment of traumatic brain injury

Comparison of IQ scores from the standard Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised (WAIS-R) and the Ward (1990) seven-subtest short form (WAIS-R/7 SF) was performed on a sample of 459 patients with traumatic brain injury due to head trauma. The results indicate that this short form provides Verbal, Performance, and Full Scale IQ scores that vary little from the complete WAIS-R, at approximately one-half the typical administration time. The seven subtest short form predicted WAIS-R Full Scale IQ within 6 points in 95% of this clinical sample, with Verbal-Performance IQ discrepancies that were highly correlated (r(s) =.85, p <.0001). No differential gender effect in proration of IQs was found. Applications and pitfalls of abbreviated neuropsychological testing batteries are discussed, with utilization of the WAIS-R/7 SF offered as a means to reduce intelligence testing time while maintaining the ability to detect subtle information processing abnormalities with appropriate supplemental tasks.