WAIS--R scatter with psychiatric inpatients: II. Intersubtest scatter.

Intersubtest scatter values for the Full, Verbal, and Performance Scales of the WAIS--R were estimated for a sample of 163 psychiatric inpatients and compared with those reported for the WAIS--R standardization group using the normal deviate (z) test. Intersubtest scatter was assessed using the range and the Profile Variability Index. Results were surprising and conflicted with what was expected based on the clinical literature. First, in comparison to the standardization group, the psychiatric inpatients showed significantly more intersubtest scatter on the Verbal Scale only, while Performance Scale values were comparable. Second, the psychiatric inpatient sample, as a group, showed identical amounts of scatter on the Verbal and Performance Scales. Results suggest that the interpretation of intersubtest scatter as a sign of psychopathology should be avoided.