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PubMed2000

Social functioning scale: new contributions concerning its psychometric characteristics in a Spanish adaptation.

The assessment of social functioning takes on special importance with the development of promising new types of psychosocial intervention for the treatment of schizophrenia. Nevertheless, there are still few satisfactorily reliable instruments for the assessment of social functioning that are reasonably applicable in terms of time. This scarcity is even more notable in the Spanish language. The aim of this study is to validate a Spanish version of the Social Functioning Scale (SFS) giving new data (test-retest stability and concurrent validity) on the psychometric characteristics of the scale. One hundred and fifty subjects with a diagnosis of functional psychosis according to the DSM-III-R (codes 295-298) criteria - 105 (70%) of them schizophrenic patients - in an outpatient regimen of the Community Mental Health Center were assessed using a Spanish version of the Social Functioning Scale. The reliability and validity of the scale were studied. Data on the reliability (internal consistency, item-total correlation, test-retest and informant/self-report reliability) and validity (of the construct, concurrent and the criterion group method) revealed a substantial fulfillment of the basic psychometric criteria. The results corroborate the favorable psychometric characteristics of the scales and support the worth of the instrument for the assessment of the social functioning of psychotic patients when there is reliable and feasible assessment of out-patients.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Selection of quality-of-life measures for a prevention trial: a psychometric analysis.

Quality-of-life (QoL) outcomes have become increasingly important in the evaluation of health interventions. The objective of the present study was to determine which of three generic QoL instruments was most suitable for use in an 8-year nutritional primary prevention trial. We compared the Duke Health Profile, the Nottingham Health Profile, and the Short Form Health Survey Questionnaire (SF36). We conducted the comparison in two stages: (1) a statistical analysis of data from a pilot study (n = 963) comparing the psychometric properties of the three instruments; and (2) an assessment of the practicality of the tools. With regard to psychometric properties, convergent validity was comparable for the three scales, and the correlation with Global Health Assessment ranged from 0.24 to 0.72. Discriminant validity was best for the SF36, with a difference between scores in healthy subjects and those with chronic disease in the range of 4.4 to 15.8 (scores could range from 0 to 100, where 100 indicates perfect health). Reproducibility was good for all three instruments, with a test-retest intraclass correlation coefficient of over 0.60 for most dimensions. DHP and SF36 performed best in terms of responsiveness. We judged the practicality of the three tools as satisfactory. We chose the SF36 for its high responsiveness. We also selected the Duke Health Profile for its practicality and favorable psychometric properties.

Cardiovascular Diseases↗

PubMed2004

The Patient Perspective Survey (PPS): a new tool to improve consultation outcome and patient involvement in general practice patients with complex health problems. Psychometric testing and development of a final version.

The Patient Perspective Survey (PPS) is designed to enhance consultation outcome and patient participation among general practice patients with complex health problems. This article presents the final version of the survey. This version is more condensed, tested for psychometric and clinical properties, and with increased emphasis on coping. The development and testing was performed in two phases with two groups of GPs and patients. Indications for use and criteria for rejection of items were defined, based on comprehensive data analysis and clinical judgement. The number of items was reduced to 38 items. The majority of diagnoses were related to psychosocial or musculoskeletal disorders. For the survey's main dimensions (psychological and somatic items, everyday life situation and coping) sound psychometric properties were identified. Seven open-ended questions were found useful for obtaining important new information and stimulating processes, often related to coping aspects. The revised 38-item PPS represents a condensed and final version, with increased focus on coping, and sound psychometric properties.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Construction and psychometric properties of sexuality scales: sex knowledge, experience, and needs scales for people with intellectual disabilities (SexKen-ID), people with physical disabilities (SexKen-PD), and the general population (SexKen-GP).

This study reports on the development and assessment of the psychometric properties of three measures to assess sexual knowledge, experience, feelings, and needs. The first was designed to assess the Sexual Knowledge, Experience, Feelings, and Needs of people with mild intellectual disabilities (SexKen-ID). The two parallel measures were designed to assess the same areas of sexuality among people with physical disabilities (SexKen-PD) and among the general population (SexKen-GP). The areas of sexuality included in the scales were Friendship, Dating and Intimacy, Marriage, Body Part Identification, Sex and Sex Education, Menstruation, Sexual Interaction, Contraception, Pregnancy, Abortion and Child-birth, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Masturbation, and Homosexuality. Generation of the items in these scales is described in Studies 1-3. Study 4 describes the evaluation of the psychometric properties of the scales. Sixty-six people with intellectual disabilities, 54 people with physical disabilities, and 100 people from the general population completed the scales. Test-retest reliabilities were also calculated with 30 people with intellectual disabilities, 30 people with physical disabilities, and 30 people from the general population. These data demonstrate the good psychometric properties of the scales and so their simitability for assessing the sexual knowledge, experience, feelings, and needs of people with disability.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Psychometric and clinical tests of validity of the Japanese SF-36 Health Survey.

Cross-sectional data from a representative sample of the general population in Japan were analyzed to test the validity of Japanese SF-36 Health Survey scales as measures of physical and mental health. Results from psychometric and clinical tests of validity were compared. Principal components analyses were used to test for the hypothesized physical and mental dimensions of health and the pattern of scale correlations with those components. To test the clinical validity of SF-36 scale scores, self-reports of chronic medical conditions and the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale were used to create mutually exclusive groups differing in the severity of physical and mental conditions. The pattern of correlations between the SF-36 scales and the two empirically derived components generally confirmed hypotheses for most scales. Results of psychometric and clinical tests of validity were in agreement for the Physical Functioning, Role-Physical, Vitality, Social Functioning, and Mental Health scales. Relatively less agreement between psychometric and clinical tests of validity was observed for the Bodily Pain, General Health, and Role-Emotional scales, and the physical and mental health factor content of those scales was not consistent with hypotheses. In clinical tests of validity, the General Health, Bodily Pain, and Physical Functioning scales were the most valid scales in discriminating between groups with and without a severe physical condition. Scales that correlated highest with mental health in the components analysis (Mental Health and Vitality) also were most valid in discriminating between groups with and without depression. The results of this study provide preliminary interpretation guidelines for all SF-36 scales, although caution is recommended in the interpretation of the Role-Emotional, Bodily Pain, and General Health scales pending further studies in Japan.

Adult↗

PubMed1989

[Quantified EEG and psychometric effects of 3 doses of dexfenfluramine in the young adult].

In an acute, double-blind placebo-controlled study, three groups of nine healthy subjects were included. Each group received, in randomized and weekly intervals, a single oral dose of dexfenfluramine (15 mg, 30 mg or 60 mg) or placebo. Psychometric and EEG studies were carried out before as well as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 h after drug administration. Changes from predrug to postdrug conditions for each time were determined by the ratio of absolute spectral power and compared to the evolution of power spectra under placebo conditions. Statistical evaluation was done with ANOVA. Dexfenfluramine induced a dose-dependent decrease of power spectra for theta and alpha 1 bands and an increase for the beta band. Topographic brain mapping of these significant changes displayed a central and posterior decrease for theta and alpha 1 bands, and a temporal localization for the beta-power. Maps of relative power-enhanced changes were seen in absolute power and provided false displays. Psychometric evaluation of dexfenfluramine effects only showed trends to extraversion and increased mood scores but no statistical significance was found. Arousal and performance tests were unchanged. These results suggest that qEEG variations are more sensitive to serotonergic drug effects than psychometric investigations. It appears that spontaneous EEG power spectra variations with time must be accounted for by drug evaluation. Absolute power variations are more reliable than relative power. Methodological implications are discussed.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Evaluation of cognitive performance in the heat by functional brain imaging and psychometric testing.

Military operations in tropical environments have imposed a significant challenge to the Australian Defence Forces (ADF). The hot and humid conditions are known to cause debilitating effects on soldiers deployed to northern regions of Australia, with the consequence that the effectiveness and efficiency of operations are severely compromised. While the adverse effects of thermal stress on soldiers' physiological capability are well established, this has not been confirmed for cognitive performance. A select range of psychometric tests were administered and functional brain electrical activity imaging was performed to investigate the impact of thermal stress on cognitive performance. The brain electrical activity of subjects was measured while undertaking a range of cognitive tasks. Steady State Probe Topography (SSPT), a novel brain imaging technology, was employed to monitor the changes in regional brain activity and neural processing speed of subjects under thermal stress. The psychometric test batteries included the following tasks; Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test; Inspection Time; Digit Span test; a spatial working memory task; and the AX-continuous performance task. These tasks measure a range of cognitive processes including attention, memory, verbal learning, information processing and concentration. The functional brain imaging provided topographical information, which showed changes in electrical activity in response to thermal stress during cognitive performance. These changes in brain electrical activity and neural speed induced by thermal stress may help to identify the type of cognitive functions that are likely to be impaired under operational conditions. Results indicated that subjects experienced increasing cardiovascular strain through thermally neutral to thermally straining conditions. The results from the psychometric test battery showed some promising effects given the small sample size including deficits in working memory, in information retention and in information processing. There was also marked differences in the electrical responses of the brain when subjects were thermally strained. The Steady-State Visual Evoked Potential recordings showed an increase in amplitude and a decrease in latency, suggesting an increase in the utilisation of neural resources or effort by subjects to maintain the same level of performance as under thermally neutral conditions. The data are suggestive of the high sensitivity of brain imaging techniques with high temporal resolution to identify important decrements in cognitive performance in hostile environments.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Psychometric properties of the parental stressor scale: infant hospitalization.

PURPOSE: This article reports the development and psychometric properties of the Parental Stressor Scale: Infant Hospitalization (PSS:IH), an instrument designed to measure parents' perceptions of stress associated with having their infant admitted to the hospital. SUBJECTS: Eighty-one mothers and 43 fathers of medically fragile, hospitalized infants.Design and methods Psychometric study of the PSS:IH, an instrument that was adapted from the Parental Stressor Scale: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (PSS:NICU) using literature review, parent interviews, and professional experts. Psychometric analysis was conducted from data collected in a longitudinal study of parents of medically fragile infants. Main outcome measure PSS:IH. RESULTS: Correlation coefficients demonstrate its internal consistency reliability. Construct validity is supported by significant correlations between the PSS:IH scores during hospitalization with maternal distress after discharge. CONCLUSIONS: The PSS:IH can be used as an outcome assessment instrument for quality assurance and in clinical research. Additional research could evaluate the scale for use in different populations and settings.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Assessing the psychometric and language equivalency of the Chinese versions of the Index of Nausea, Vomiting and Retching, and the Prenatal Self-Evaluation Questionnaire.

This study was an initial psychometric test of the Chinese versions of the Index of Nausea, Vomiting and Retching (INVR), and the Prenatal Self-Evaluation Questionnaire (PSEQ) in pregnant Taiwanese women. Although there already is evidence that the English-language versions of the scales are reliable and valid, it is important to verify the proper psychometric characteristics of the Chinese versions. Forward and backward translation, and a multiphase instrumentation study describing internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and content validity of the translated versions were conducted. A convenience sample was recruited from prenatal clinics in the south of Taiwan. Three measurement instruments were used in this study: the demographic inventory (DI), the INVR, and the PSEQ. Thirty pregnant women participated in the study. Both the internal consistency and stability coefficients of the INVR and PSEQ were satisfactory. The indices of content validity (CVI) for the Chinese versions of these two instruments were both 1.0, indicating that they are acceptable for use among Taiwanese pregnant women. This was the first instrumentation study of the INVR and PSEQ applied to Taiwanese pregnant women. Researchers could use this study as a model for future translation and application of psychometric instrumentation.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed1991

Cognitive abnormalities in multiple sclerosis: a psychometric and MRI study.

This study reports the cognitive abnormalities of a group of 58 patients with definite multiple sclerosis (MS). The psychometric functions measured were: 'IQ deficit', verbal and visual memory, abstracting ability, visual and auditory attention and naming ability. The presence of brain pathology was investigated using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A group of 46 physically disabled controls without significant brain disease was used for comparison. Normative MRI data were obtained from a group of 40 normal volunteers. The psychometric performance of the MS group was compared to the previously reported findings in patients with clinically isolated syndromes. MS patients had widespread cognitive deficits sparing naming ability and affecting verbal memory less severely than other intellectual functions. The overall performance on psychometric tests was related to the severity of the MRI abnormalities and to the duration of the illness, but was not significantly influenced by the presence of psychiatric morbidity or the degree of physical disability. Patients with clinically isolated syndromes occupied an intermediate position between MS patients and disabled controls in terms of cognitive and MRI abnormalities.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed1991

Psychometric assessment of psychiatric disorders in people with learning difficulties (mental handicap): a review of measures.

Instruments designed to assess psychiatric disorders in people with learning difficulties (mental handicap) were critically reviewed from a psychometric perspective. Major trends were found in the assessment of psychopathology related to DSM-III and depressive disorders although research in other areas was patchy. Although some psychometrically sophisticated measures were identified the area was characterized by an absence of important psychometric data for many measures. Future research should attend to developing assessments of schizophrenia, psycho-sexual disorders, adjustment disorders and the validation of screening procedures and instrument formats. Future studies should include more people with severe and profound learning difficulties.

Humans↗

PubMed2001

The Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale: a comparison of the psychometric properties of self-report and clinician-administered formats.

BACKGROUND: The clinician-administered version of the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS-CA) is a commonly used assessment device for the evaluation of social anxiety disorder and has been shown to have strong psychometric characteristics. Because of its apparently straightforward rating format and potential savings in time and effort, interest in the use of the LSAS as a self-report (LSAS-SR) measure has increased, and the LSAS-SR has been used in a number of studies. However, the psychometric properties of the LSAS-SR have not been well established. METHODS: This study examined the psychometric properties of the LSAS-SR in comparison to the LSAS-CA in a sample of 99 individuals with a primary diagnosis of social anxiety disorder and 53 individuals with no current psychiatric disorder. RESULTS: There was little difference between the two versions of the LSAS on any scale or subscale score. Both forms were internally consistent and the subscale intercorrelations for the two forms were essentially identical. Correlations of each LSAS-SR index with its LSAS-CA counterpart were all highly significant. Finally, the convergent and discriminant validity of the two forms of the LSAS was shown to be strong. CONCLUSION: Results of this study suggest that the self-report version of the LSAS compares well to the clinician-administered version and may be validly employed in the assessment of social anxiety disorder.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

The Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology, Clinician Rating (IDS-C) and Self-Report (IDS-SR), and the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology, Clinician Rating (QIDS-C) and Self-Report (QIDS-SR) in public sector patients with mood disorders: a psychometric evaluation.

BACKGROUND: The present study provides additional data on the psychometric properties of the 30-item Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology (IDS) and of the recently developed Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology (QIDS), a brief 16-item symptom severity rating scale that was derived from the longer form. Both the IDS and QIDS are available in matched clinician-rated (IDS-C30; QIDS-C16) and self-report (IDS-SR30; QIDS-SR16) formats. METHOD: The patient samples included 544 out-patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and 402 out-patients with bipolar disorder (BD) drawn from 19 regionally and ethnicically diverse clinics as part of the Texas Medication Algorithm Project (TMAP). Psychometric analyses including sensitivity to change with treatment were conducted. RESULTS: Internal consistencies (Cronbach's alpha) ranged from 0.81 to 0.94 for all four scales (QIDS-C16, QIDS-SR16, IDS-C30 and IDS-SR30) in both MDD and BD patients. Sad mood, involvement, energy, concentration and self-outlook had the highest item-total correlations among patients with MDD and BD across all four scales. QIDS-SR16 and IDS-SR30 total scores were highly correlated among patients with MDD at exit (c = 0.83). QIDS-C16 and IDS-C30 total scores were also highly correlated among patients with MDD (c = 0.82) and patients with BD (c = 0.81). The IDS-SR30, IDS-C30, QIDS-SR16, and QIDS-C16 were equivalently sensitive to symptom change, indicating high concurrent validity for all four scales. High concurrent validity was also documented based on the SF-12 Mental Health Summary score for the population divided in quintiles based on their IDS or QIDS score. CONCLUSION: The QIDS-SR16 and QIDS-C16, as well as the longer 30-item versions, have highly acceptable psychometric properties and are treatment sensitive measures of symptom severity in depression.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Escitalopram dose-response revisited: an alternative psychometric approach to evaluate clinical effects of escitalopram compared to citalopram and placebo in patients with major depression.

In continuation of a previous psychometric analysis of dose-response data for citalopram in depression, the corresponding study data for escitalopram is of interest, since escitalopram is the active enantiomer of citalopram and because citalopram was used as the active control. Revisiting those corresponding data, the psychometric properties of the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Scale (MADRS) and the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) were investigated by focusing on the unidimensional HAMD6 and MADRS6. Effect sizes were calculated and compared for two dosages of escitalopram (10 mg and 20 mg daily) and between each of these two dosages and 40 mg citalopram daily. The results showed that the three depression scales MADRS6, MADRS10 and HAMD6 were psychometrically acceptable (coefficient of homogeneity of 0.40 or higher). In the severely depressed patients (MADRS10> or =30) a rather clear dose-response relationship for escitalopram was seen on all three scales after 6 and 8 wk of therapy. Thus, the effect size for 10 mg escitalopram ranged from 0.28 to 0.38 while the effect sizes for 20 mg escitalopram ranged from 0.57 to 0.77. This difference was statistically significant (p<0.01). The effect size for 40 mg citalopram ranged from 0.36 to 0.47, which is within the range found for 40 mg citalopram in our previous dose-response analysis of citalopram after 6 wk of therapy. The numerically largest difference between 20 mg escitalopram and 40 mg citalopram was seen after 8 wk of therapy for MADRS10 (effect size 0.71 vs. 0.37). An item analysis identified 'suicidal thoughts' to be the most discriminating item in this respect. These results for the severely depressed patients were confirmed by the patients self-reported quality of life evaluation. When all included patients were analysed, however, no clear dose-response relationship was seen. In conclusion, a dose-response relationship for escitalopram was seen in the severely depressed patients on all outcome scales after 6 and 8 wk of treatment. After 8 wk of treatment 20 mg escitalopram was superior to 40 mg citalopram, but not after 2 wk of treatment.

Antidepressive Agents↗

PubMed2004

Psychometric properties of the EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire in inpatient cancer rehabilitation in Germany.

OBJECTIVE: Recent years have shown an increase in the use of questionnaires measuring health-related quality of life to verify the quality of treatment in the field of oncology. An often used cancer-specific questionnaire is the "Quality of Life Core Questionnaire of the European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer" (EORTC QLQ-C30). The purpose of this study is to analyze the psychometric properties of the EORTC QLQ-C30 (version 1) in order to determine the feasibility and appropriateness for its use in inpatient cancer rehabilitation in Germany with heterogeneous diagnoses. METHODS: The questionnaire was administrated to a sample of 972 cancer patients at the beginning of treatment and to 892 patients after treatment. Besides descriptive analysis, the statistical analyses include confirmatory analysis and the multitrait/multimethod approach to test the questionnaire's postulated scale structure (factorial validity) and its reliability (internal consistencies). The analysis also includes a comparison of responsiveness indices (effect size, reliable change index) to test the sensitivity of the instrument. RESULTS: The EORTC QLQ-C30 showed satisfactory levels of reliability and sensitivity, but the postulated scale structure could not be confirmed. The results illustrate that the varimax-rotated solution of a principal component analysis does not confirm the scale structure postulated by the authors. Correspondingly, the selected fit indices within the scope of the confirmatory factor analysis do not show satisfactory results either. SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS: We therefore consider version 1 of the EORTC QLQ-C30 to be only limitedly useful for the routine assessment of changes in the quality of life of cancer patients in inpatient rehabilitation in Germany, especially because of the instrument's length and possible redundancies. For this reason, a scoring procedure limited to a subset of items is suggested, revealing satisfactory to good psychometric indices. However, further psychometric tests are necessary, especially with regard to validity and sensitivity.

Female↗

PubMed2000

Psychometric evaluation of the fatigue severity scale for use in chronic hepatitis C.

Evidence exists demonstrating that infection with hepatitis C virus impairs health-related quality of life, but less is known about the effect of fatigue, a common symptom, on everyday life. The psychometric properties of the fatigue severity scale (FSS) were explored to determine suitability as an outcome measure in clinical trials. The FSS includes nine items developed to measure disabling fatigue and a visual analog scale (VAS) to measure overall fatigue. Using baseline data from three clinical trials (n = 1225) involving chronic hepatitis C patients, scaling and psychometric characteristics of the FSS were assessed. The SF-36 was also used in the trials. Item response theory analysis demonstrated that the FSS items can be placed along a single homogenous domain, fatigue. Internal consistency reliability was 0.94. Test-retest reliability was 0.82 for the total score and 0.80 for the VAS. The total score and the VAS were significantly correlated with the SF-36 vitality subscale (r = -0.76 and r = -0.76 respectively). Correlations with other SF-36 subscales were moderate (r = -0.46 to r = -0.67, all p < 0.0001). In summary, the FSS possesses good psychometric properties.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Health-related quality of life in children assessed by their parents: evaluation of the psychometric properties of the CHQ-PF50 in two German clinical samples.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the German translation of the Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ). Parents of two clinical samples were asked to rate the quality of life of their children using the German version of the CHQ. Item internal consistency (item-scale correlation) and internal consistency of scales were tested; quartiles and factor analysis were conducted. The results of the German clinical samples were compared with US clinical samples (t-test). The two clinical German sub-groups were compared using multivariate analysis (MANOVA). The psychometric testing of the CHQ showed good results. Internal consistency of the hypothesized scales were all higher than 0.70. The results of the factor analysis confirmed the results of the US norm sample: As expected, the subscales loaded on two factors explaining 57.4% of the total variance. The group comparison supported the discriminative properties of the CHQ. Preliminary psychometric findings support use of the German version of the CHQ. The next step will be the testing of healthy German samples and development of norm scores.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed2004

The World Health Organization's WHOQOL-BREF quality of life assessment: psychometric properties and results of the international field trial. A report from the WHOQOL group.

Quality of life (QOL) assessments that are easily administered and which do not impose a great burden on the respondent are needed for use in large epidemiological surveys, clinical settings and clinical trials. Using data from the WHOQOL-BREF field trials, the objectives of this work are to examine the performance of the WHOQOL-BREF as an integrated instrument, and to test its main psychometric properties. The WHOQOL-BREF is a 26-item version of the WHOQOL-100 assessment. Its psychometric properties were analysed using cross-sectional data obtained from a survey of adults carried out in 23 countries (n = 11,830). Sick and well respondents were sampled from the general population, as well as from hospital, rehabilitation and primary care settings, serving patients with physical and mental disorders and with respect to quotas of important socio-demographic variables. The WHOQOL-BREF self-assessment was completed, together with socio-demographic and health status questions. Analyses of internal consistency, item-total correlations, discriminant validity and construct validity through confirmatory factor analysis, indicate that the WHOQOL-BREF has good to excellent psychometric properties of reliability and performs well in preliminary tests of validity. These results indicate that overall, the WHOQOL-BREF is a sound, cross-culturally valid assessment of QOL, as reflected by its four domains: physical, psychological, social and environment.

Adolescent↗