USE OF THE BELLEVUE-WECHSLER SCALE IN CLINICAL PSYCHIATRY WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO CASES WITH BRAIN DAMAGE

Abstract

By use of the Bellevue-Wechsler test, quantitative and qualitative alterations were found in patients with "brain damage." The quantitative signs consisted of marked discrepancy in the weighted scores between various sub-test items. Performance on non-verbal items was most affected, as a rule. Qualitative signs were best seen in non-verbal test items where the patients showed rigidity, inability to shift attention or change the mode of responding, inability to ignore superficial or extraneous stimuli, and difficulty in organizing material. Where both quantitative and qualitative irregularity of performance were found, clinical analysis revealed a very high incidence of brain damage. The use of the test is recommended for diagnosis and investigation.