Advances in Psychiatric Treatment (2008) 14: 235-240. doi: 10.1192/apt.bp.107.004127
© 2008 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit an eLetter
Right arrow View responses
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Right arrow Citing Articles via Scopus
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Harrison-Read, P.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by Harrison-Read, P.

IQ tests as aids to diagnosis and management in early schizophrenia

Phil Harrison-Read

Phil Harrison-Read is a retired consultant general adult psychiatrist, formerly working in the London borough of Camden and based at the Royal Free Hospital, London. He had a special interest in psychopharmacology, and was lecturer in pharmacology at St Bartholomew’s Hospital Medical College, London. Correspondence c/o Advances in Psychiatric Treatment, The Royal College of Psychiatrists, 17 Belgrave Square, London SW1X 8PG, UK. Email: apt{at}rcpsych.ac.uk.

Intellectual and other more specific neurocognitive impairments in schizophrenia are important for understanding the aetiology of the condition and its likely outcome. However, these impairments are not usually considered important for supporting a diagnosis in suspected early schizophrenia. IQ testing is widely available and probably acceptable to most people likely to be experiencing the early stages of psychosis and who might be unable or unwilling to disclose details of their history and mental state or to cooperate with more comprehensive neuropsychological assessment. Although in general IQ tests have only limited diagnostic value in schizophrenia, the finding of a substantial decline in IQ score from the estimated premorbid level may be helpful in supporting a provisional diagnosis of early schizophrenia in cases without organic signs in which the clinical picture is unclear or incomplete. More important, the results of IQ tests may contribute to a better understanding of patients’ impairments and assist clinical management in a number of ways, as illustrated here by three fictional case studies.




eLetters:

Read all eLetters

Deficit State
Raghavendar Baburaj
Advances Online, 29 May 2008 [Full text]
Labelling people is not helpful
Ruchi Thakur
Advances Online, 29 May 2008 [Full text]