[The Dutch Reading Test for Adults: a measure of premorbid intelligence level].

The construction of the Dutch Adult Reading Test (DART) is described. The DART is the Dutch version of the National Adult Reading Test. Both tests consist of a series of words with an irregular pronunciation. The score on the test is a predictor of premorbid intelligence of brain damaged patients. Furthermore, results of reliability and validation studies with the DART are reported. The main findings, which were obtained with the NART, were replicated by the DART. These findings consist of a high correlation (.85) with verbal intelligence in healthy controls (n = 22) and insensitivity to cerebral deterioration in brain damaged and demented patients (n = 53). The test also appeared to be insensitive to cognitive deterioration in a group of psychotic patients (n = 43).