The relationship between intelligence and global adaptive functioning in young people with or without neurodevelopmental disorders.
Jakob Åsberg Johnels, Paul Yngvesson, Eva Billstedt, Christopher Gillberg, Linda Halldner, Maria Råstam, Peik Gustafsson, Eva Norén Selinus, Paul Lichtenstein, Clara Hellner, Henrik Anckarsäter, Sebastian Lundström
Author Information
Jakob Åsberg Johnels: Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Paul Yngvesson: Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Eva Billstedt: Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Christopher Gillberg: Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Linda Halldner: Department of Clinical Science, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Umeå University, Sweden; Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Maria Råstam: Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
Peik Gustafsson: Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
Eva Norén Selinus: Centre for Clinical Research, County of Västmanland, Uppsala University, Västerås, Sweden; Centre for Psychiatry Research, Stockholm, Sweden; The Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences, Stockholm, Sweden.
Paul Lichtenstein: Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Clara Hellner: Centre for Ethics Law and Mental Health, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Henrik Anckarsäter: Centre for Ethics Law and Mental Health, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Sebastian Lundström: Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; Centre for Ethics Law and Mental Health, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden. Electronic address: sebastian.lundstrom@gnc.gu.se.
Previous studies have shown an association between IQ and adaptive global functioning, i.e. how well a person is functioning in different domains of life. However, it is unclear to what extent such an association applies in children with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). The study group consisted of 550 population-screened children assessed with the K-SADS, WISC-IV, and the C-GAS. Approximately half of the sample had been diagnosed with one or several NDDs (ADHD, autism, language disorder and tic disorder). A factorial ANOVA with IQ level and the presence of NDD was conducted, with C-GAS score as the dependent variable. Results revealed a significant interaction effect between IQ-group and NDD-status. In the non-NDD group (49% girls), higher IQ scores were clearly linked with better global adaptive functioning. Among children with NDDs (35% girls), however, higher IQ scores were not clearly associated with better functioning. Thus, the association between IQ and adaptive functioning were found to differ depending on the presence of NDD. These results have implications for the interpretation of IQ test results in neurodevelopmental assessments and point towards the importance of providing support based on an assessment of needs and functioning rather than scores from IQ tests.
