N. van Duijvenbode

Psychometric qualities of a tetrad WAIS-III short form for use in individuals with mild to borderline intellectual disability

Abstract Objective: To investigate the reliability and validity of a Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence-based Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale – third edition (WAIS-III) short form (SF) in a sample of individuals with mild to borderline intellectual disability (MBID) (N = 117; MIQ = 71.34; SDIQ = 8.00, range: 52–85). Methods: A full WAIS-III was administered as a standard procedure in the diagnostic process. Results: The results indicate an excellent reliability (r = 0.96) and a strong, positive correlation with the full WAIS-III (r = 0.89). The SF correctly identified ID in general and the correct IQ category more specifically in the majority of cases (97.4% and 86.3% of cases, respectively). In addition, 82.1% of the full scale IQ (FSIQ) estimates fell within the 95% confidence interval of the original score. Conclusions: We conclude that the SF is a reliable and valid measure to estimate FSIQ. It can be used in clinical and research settings when global estimates of intelligence are sufficient.

The addicted brain: cognitive biases in problematic drinkers with mild to borderline intellectual disability

BACKGROUND Substance use disorders (SUD) are associated with several neurobiological disruptions, including biases in attention and approach/avoidance behaviour. The aims of this study were to compare the strength of cognitive biases between light and problematic drinkers, to explore the role of IQ on the cognitive biases and to study the psychometric qualities of the measures. METHOD Participants (N = 130) were divided into four groups based on IQ and severity of alcohol use-related problems: light (n = 28) and problematic drinkers (n = 25) with (sub)average IQ and light (n = 33) and problematic drinkers (n = 44) with mild to borderline intellectual disability (MBID). All participants performed the visual dot probe task and the approach avoidance task to measure the strength of cognitive biases. RESULTS In contrast with the hypothesis, no cognitive biases were found in problematic drinkers. Full scale IQ nor level of craving influenced the strength of the cognitive biases in light and problematic drinkers, although IQ did influence task performance (i.e. large intra-individual, trial-to-trial variation in reaction time). The internal consistency of the visual dot probe task was good, whereas the internal consistency of the approach avoidance task was poor. CONCLUSION Cognitive biases seem to vary within the group of problematic drinkers as a whole. The psychometric qualities of the measures are problematic, especially in relation to the intra-individual variability in reaction time found in participants with MBID. Until the implications of this variability on the validity of implicit measures and establishing bias scores are more clear, the use of these measures in individuals with MBID calls for scrutiny.

Substance Use Disorders

Based on the 2002 National Survey on Drug Use and Health approximately 46% of individuals (aged 12 and older) report lifetime use of illicit drugs, 69% report lifetime use of cigarettes, and 83% report lifetime use of alcohol. Less than 10% of the population, 22 million Americans, meet criteria for a current diagnosis of substance dependence or abuse (SAMSHA, 2002). Of these individuals, 7.7 million may require treatment for a drug use disorder and 17.6 million may require treatment for an alcohol use disorder. The estimated social costs of substance use disorders are in excess of

Attentional bias in problematic drinkers with and without mild to borderline intellectual disability

300 billion, including costs of treatment, related health problems, absenteeism, productivity loss, crime and incarceration, and education and prevention. Of these costs, treatment and prevention efforts are significantly less costly than the cost of incarceration and crimes (SAMSHA, 1997). A study in California estimated that every dollar spent on substance abuse treatment saves

The relationship between drinking motives and interpretation bias in problematic drinkers with mild to borderline intellectual disability

7 in costs related to health, crime, and work productivity (Delaney, Gable, & Kendell, 2000). Substance use disorders are classified by the American Psychiatric Association (1994) as two distinct, but often cooccurring, disorders: substance dependence and substance abuse.

The road ahead: New developments in the field of substance use in individuals with intellectual disability

BACKGROUND Problematic drinkers favour the processing of alcohol-related stimuli at the cost of other stimuli and also find it difficult to disengage their attention from these stimuli. This is indicative of an attentional bias towards alcohol. The goal of this study was to examine this bias in problematic drinkers with and without mild to borderline intellectual disability (MBID) using both eye tracking methodology and behavioural data (i.e. reaction time (RT) data). METHOD Participants (N = 133) were divided into four groups based on (estimated) full scale intelligence quotient (IQ) and severity of alcohol use-related problems. The severity of substance use-related problems was assessed with the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT). The visual dot probe task was used to measure the attentional bias. We analysed both eye tracking data and behavioural data (i.e. RT data) of the visual dot probe task. RESULTS Problematic drinkers were not more likely than light drinkers to direct their attention towards pictures of alcoholic beverages, did not look at these pictures longer than light drinkers and did also not respond faster than light drinkers to probes replacing pictures of alcoholic beverages. However, the strength of the attentional bias varied profusely. CONCLUSION Taking the large variability in the strength of the attentional bias and the poor psychometric qualities of the measures into consideration, it is concluded that the use of these measures for clinical purposes is discouraged.

'Het zit allemaal tussen mijn oren!': De neuropsychologie van verslavingsproblematiek bij mensen met een lichte verstandelijke beperking ['It's all between my ears!': The neuropsychology of substance use disorders in individuals with mild to borderline intellectual disability]

ABSTRACT Background The goal of this study was to examine the relationship between drinking motives and interpretation bias (interpreting ambiguous stimuli in an alcohol-related way) in problematic drinkers with and without mild to borderline intellectual disability (MBID). Method Participants (N = 178) were divided into 4 groups based on severity of alcohol use–related problems and full-scale IQ. They completed a word-association task and the Drinking Motives Questionnaire Revised (DMQ-R). Results Problematic drinkers showed an interpretation bias towards alcohol. Participants with MBID had a relatively strong interpretation bias. The DMQ-R coping motive predicted the strength of the bias in negative scenarios, whereas the DMQ-R coping and social motives predicted the strength of the bias in positive scenarios. Conclusions The activation of this bias might depend on individual differences in drinking motives, which provides implications for the assessment and treatment of problematic alcohol use in individuals with and without MBID.