Abstract
Objectives. The purpose of this study was to further evaluate the validity of the Allen Cognitive Level Test (ACL-90) as a measure of the construct of “adaptive functioning” and to determine its effectiveness in discriminating between persons who live in the community and persons who are institutionalized.
Method. Forty-one persons with schizophrenia living in the community and 17 persons with schizophrenia living in a long-term psychiatric hospital were assessed with the ACL-90 and the Life Skills Profile (LSP). Scores on the two measures were compared, as was the effectiveness of the two measures in discriminating between the participant groups.
Results. The ACL-90 scores correlated moderately with the LSP total r (56) = .54, p < .01, and Self-Care Subscale, r (56) = .53, p < .01. Only the Nonturbulence subscale of the LSP discriminated between the community and institutionalized participant groups. The behavior of the participants living in the community was less turbulent than that of the participants who were institutionalized, F(1,54) = 15.24, p < .001.
Conclusion. Although the moderate correlations between the ACL-90 and the LSP measures support the ACL as a measure of adaptive functioning and reflect its theoretical perspective, additional information is needed to predict the community functioning and support needs of persons with schizophrenia.