Test-retest Reliability of the National Adult Reading Test (NART) as an Estimate of Premorbid IQ in Patients with Schizophrenia

Abstract

Schizophrenia has been associated with generalised cognitive impairments including diminished performance on tasks of intellectual functioning. The National Adult Reading Test (NART) has been used in schizophrenia research to provide estimates of premorbid IQ. However, there have been no studies which have examined the stability of the NART over time in this patient group. This within-patient study examined the stability of NART scores over a six-month period in patients with schizophrenia. Patients were assessed at baseline, six weeks, and six months. No significant differences were found between the three assessments. The results demonstrated that NART-estimated premorbid IQ scores remained stable over time.