University of Twente Student Theses
Validating instruments to screen intelligence in a setting for individuals with a substance use disorder
Elsinghorst, L. (2019) Validating instruments to screen intelligence in a setting for individuals with a substance use disorder.
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| Abstract: | Background: The awareness of a mild to borderline intellectual disability (MBID) increases among patients who are in treatment for substance use disorders (SUD). Having a MBID is a risk factor for developing a SUD. The group of people with MBID is very heterogeneous, this makes it more difficult to recognize MBID. It is important to detect MBID, in order to not overcharge these individuals, and to account for the specific features of individuals with a MBID during treatment and diagnostic research. However, diagnostic instruments validated for the MBID population are scarce. Purpose: Currently, the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS-IV) is the preferred questionnaire within Tactus to analyze a patients intellectual functioning. The WAIS-IV is an extensive instrument and is validated among MBID individuals. However, because of its long and complex character, this instrument does not meet the specific features of patients with MBID symptoms, making this instrument less suitable. The purpose of this study is to validate screeners for intellectual functioning among this target group, which seem to meet the specific features of patients with MBID symptoms. Method: Twelve patients who are in clinical treatment within one of the MBID departments of Tactus are included in this study by convenience sampling. The construct validity of the Montreal Cognitive Assesment (MoCA) and the Screener voor Intelligentie en Licht Verstandelijke Beperking (Screener for Intelligence and Mild Intellectual Disability; SCIL) is examined by a regression analysis between the scores on these tests and the corresponding scales of the WAIS-IV. Besides this, the sensitivity and specificity for detecting MBID of different cut-off scores of these screeners is considered by use of crosstabs, and is supported by a receiver operating characteristic analyse (ROC-analyse). Results: The results of the regression analysis show a strong relationship, and a strong, significant correlation between the WAIS-IV and the MoCA, and an even stronger relationship and stronger significant correlation between the WAIS-IV and the SCIL. The relationship between indexes of the WAIS-IV and scales of the MoCA is questionable. Utilizing a cut-off score of 26 for the MoCA results in 100% sensitivity, and 50% specificity. Utilizing a cut-off score of 19 for the SCIL results in 70% sensitivity, and 100% specificity. A sensitivity of 100% is achieved when using a cut-off score of 23. Conclusion: The MoCA and the SCIL are both valide instruments to screen intellectual functioning. It is suggested that the SCIL will be used as an screener for intellectual functioning, because of the strong, positive relationship with the WAIS-IV, with the assumption that the cut-off point for detecting MBID will be enhanced from 19 to 23. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Master) |
| Clients: | Tactus Verslavingszorg, Rekken, Nederland |
| Faculty: | BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences |
| Subject: | 77 psychology |
| Programme: | Psychology MSc (66604) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/77818 |
| Export this item as: | BibTeX EndNote HTML Citation Reference Manager |
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