Reviews and critiques of school psychology materials Douglas T. Brown, Associate Editor : Assessing psychopathology in persons with mental retardation: A review of the Reiss Scales

This review addresses two instruments, the Reiss Scales for Children's Dual Diagnosis and the Reiss Screen for Maladaptive Behavior, that are commonly used with persons who are mentally retarded. An analysis of the psychometric properties of each instrument is provided. The circumstances under which each instrument could be appropriately used are discussed. It is concluded that both scales are useful as screening devices, especially given the lack of instrumentation for evaluation of social and emotional status in the mentally retarded. Concern is expressed in regard to the need for a more comprehensive set of items in each test and to the author's rationale for cut scores.