Cognitive Functioning of Psychotic Children: A Reappraisal

Abstract

A discussion of the relative cognitive functioning of psychotic children is presented in terms of previous research and theoretical assumptions. The premise that psychotic children possess normal innate intelligence is challenged by the emergence of recent research dealing with measurement and stability of psychotic children's cognitive level. An analysis of recent and relevant research suggests that psychotic children do not differ from mentally retarded children in terms of cognitive functioning. It is proposed, therefore, that a reappraisal be made of the existing assumptions about psychotic children's intelligence level and that those assumptions be modified in order to make them congruent with empirical investigation.