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Oommen Mammen

Publications and source records attributed to Oommen Mammen.

2 recordsLinked to original sources

Computerized adaptive measurement of depression: a simulation study.

BACKGROUND: Efficient, accurate instruments for measuring depression are increasingly important in clinical practice. We developed a computerized adaptive version of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). We examined its efficiency and its usefulness in identifying Major Depressive Episodes (MDE) and in measuring depression severity. METHODS: Subjects were 744 participants in research studies in which each subject completed both the BDI and the SCID. In addition, 285 patients completed the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. RESULTS: The adaptive BDI had an AUC as an indicator of a SCID diagnosis of MDE of 88%, equivalent to the full BDI. The adaptive BDI asked fewer questions than the full BDI (5.6 versus 21 items). The adaptive latent depression score correlated r =.92 with the BDI total score and the latent depression score correlated more highly with the Hamilton (r =.74) than the BDI total score did (r =.70). CONCLUSIONS: Adaptive testing for depression may provide greatly increased efficiency without loss of accuracy in identifying MDE or in measuring depression severity.

Adult↗

Parental cognitions and satisfaction: relationship to aggressive parental behavior in child physical abuse.

There are limited data on cognitions and satisfaction with the child in parents who have physically abused their children. Therefore, we examined convergence among these constructs, and their relationships to parental aggression among participants in a treatment study for child physical abuse. Data were examined at two time points 12 weeks apart. The cognitions (unrealistic expectations of the child, perception of lack of control, and hostile attribution bias) and satisfaction with the child showed little convergence. Only parental satisfaction correlated significantly with aggressive parental behavior directed at the child, even after controlling for social desirability. Where there were significant correlations between externalizing child behavior and aggressive parental behavior and between parental depression and aggressive parental behavior, some limited support was found for an indirect path through parental satisfaction. If replicated, these findings suggest it may be useful to focus on parental satisfaction in research on child physical abuse.

Adolescent↗