WAIS-R Validation of the Wonderlic Personnel Test as a Brief Intelligence Measure in a Psychiatric Sample

Although there have been several reports of high correlations between Wonderlic Personnel Test scores and Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) Full Scale IQ, findings have been inconsistent in psychiatric samples. Sample differences and differences between the WAIS and the revised WAIS (WAIS-R) were considered likely reasons. In this study of relatively nonagitated but chronically ill psychiatric patients (N = 18), Wonderlic IQ estimation accuracy and Wonderlic/WAIS-R correlations were consistent with data previously reported for the WAIS, and generally support the value of the Wonderlic as a highly economical measure of general intelligence. However, the inability of 1 subject to manage the Wonderlic format suggests that severe visuospatial impairment can invalidate this test.