A criterion validity study of the schizophrenia subscale of the Psychopathology Instrument for Mentally Retarded Adults (PIMRA).
PIMRA schizophrenia and depression subscales are valid quick screens for psychosis and mood issues in adults with mild–moderate intellectual disability.
01Research in Context
What this study did
The team tested the PIMRA schizophrenia and depression subscales.
They wanted to know if the tool spots real symptoms in adults with mild–moderate intellectual disability.
The study compared PIMRA scores to expert diagnoses to check accuracy.
What they found
The schizophrenia and depression subscales matched the expert diagnoses.
In plain words, PIMRA passed the validity test for these two areas.
How this fits with other research
Barthelemy et al. (1989) used the same tool earlier and showed over one-third of adults with ID have mental-health problems.
That survey set the stage for this 1995 check on whether PIMRA truly works.
Hatton et al. (2005) later extended the idea by testing bigger tools (PANSS, PSYRATS) and also found positive results.
Together, the papers build a chain: first count the cases, then prove the tool, then try newer tools.
Why it matters
You can trust the PIMRA schizophrenia and depression subscales when screening adult clients with mild–moderate ID.
If you need a quick picture of possible psychosis or mood issues, these two subscales give you solid evidence without extra jargon.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Sixty-five mildly to moderately mentally retarded adults from institutional and community placements in Louisiana and Texas with DSM diagnoses of schizophrenia, depression, or no psychopathology were recruited. The primary goal was to establish the validity of the PIMRA's schizophrenic subscale for diagnosing mentally retarded adults. In addition, validity of the depression subscale was replicated. Assessment measures included the informant version of the Psychopathology Instrument for the Mentally Retarded (PIMRA), DSM-III-R checklists for schizophrenia and depression, and a drug response rating. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted, as were interrater reliability on all measures. The schizophrenia and depression subscale of the PIMRA were validated. Implications of the research and directions for future study are presented.
Research in developmental disabilities, 1995 · doi:10.1016/0891-4222(94)00027-7