A longitudinal comparison of hypertensives and normotensives on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale: initial findings.

This study was designed to compare changes in performance on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale over a 5- to 6-year test interval for normotensives and medically treated, uncomplicated essential hypertensives. The results indicated that normotensives improved from Time 1 to Time 2 on the Verbal scale but not on the Performance scale. Hypertensives exhibited no significant improvement or decline on either scale, although they performed less well on the Verbal scale at Time 2 than did normotensives. They also performed more poorly on the Performance scale when Time 1 and Time 2 scores were averaged. Participants who returned for Time 2 testing and those who participated only at Time 1 were compared. Verbal scaled scores at Time 1 were higher for returning than for nonreturning hypertensives, but, for normotensives, no differences were observed for those who returned for Time 2 testing and those who did not.