The association between self-report and informant reports of emotional problems in a high secure intellectual disability sample

Abstract

The study explored the relationship between self and informant reports of emotional problems in a forensic intellectual disability sample. The Emotional Problems Scales (EPS), which comprises a Self Report Inventory (EPS-SRI) and an informant Behaviour Rating Scale (EPS-BRS), was routinely administered to 30 individuals with intellectual disability in a secure forensic setting, as part of a standard clinical assessment procedure. It was hypothesised that there would be a moderate relationship between corresponding scores on the EPS-SRI and EPS-BRS. However, there were no significant relationships between corresponding scales of the EPS-SRI and EPS-BRS, apart from the EPS-SRI and EPS-BRS scales measuring anxiety. The results continued to be non-significant, even when positive impression management was controlled for. The findings suggest little relationship between self and informant ratings in a forensic intellectual disability sample, and therefore support the need to gather information from multiple sources when assessing such individuals. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)