Test-retest reliability of the Eating Disorder Inventory 2

OBJECTIVE: This study reports on findings concerning the test-retest reliability of the Eating Disorder Inventory 2 (EDI-2). METHODS: Three hundred twenty-seven female inpatients who met the DSM-IV criteria for eating disorders (anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or eating disorders not otherwise specified) and 209 inpatients with a diagnosis of depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety disorder, or somatoform disorder took part in the study. The EDI-2 was administered to the patients at the beginning of inpatient therapy and a second time 7 days later. RESULTS: All 11 EDI-2 subscales showed significant test-retest correlations ranging from .81 to .89 in the eating disorder group and from .75 to .94 in the group with other diagnoses. DISCUSSION: The test-retest reliabilities for the EDI-2 subscales are relatively high, indicating a good and acceptable stability over time. These results provide further evidence that the EDI-2 is an instrument with good reliability for the assessment of eating disorder symptoms.     

Development and preliminary validation of a Finnish version of the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q)

Background: Eating behaviour can be viewed as a continuum, ranging from extremely restrictive to extremely disinhibited eating. Valid and reliable instruments are needed to ensure detection of individuals with risk for eating disorders (ED). Self-report methods are the most feasible, cost, and time efficient. One of the most widely used self-reports is the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q).

Aim: The aim of this study was to develop a Finnish version of the EDE-Q version 6.0 and to assess its psychometric properties in adolescents, adults, and ED patients.

Methods: The present study utilized data from three different samples: adolescents (n?=?242), adults (n?=?133), and ED patients (n?=?52). The patient group comprised different EDs, but individual ED diagnoses were not studied separately. Data was collected January 2014 through June 2015.

Results: The Finnish version of the EDE-Q showed acceptable-to-excellent internal consistency on all sub-scales in all three samples and discriminated patients from healthy individuals. Female participants generally scored higher than male and sex differences were more pronounced among the younger age group.

Conclusions: The Finnish version of the EDE-Q can, based on this study, be regarded as reliable, valid, and functional. Further studies are needed to evaluate the population norms and to test the validity in individual ED diagnoses.     

Psychiatric comorbidity and Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI) profiles in eating disorder patients.

OBJECTIVE: This study examines potential overlaps between psychiatric comorbidity (Axis I and II) and scores on the subscales of the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI) in women with eating disorders (EDs). METHOD: In a sample of 248 women (72 with anorexia nervosa, 140 with bulimia nervosa, and 36 with eating disorders not otherwise specified), we determined psychiatric comorbidity using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV. Behavioural and psychological characteristics of EDs were quantified with the EDI. RESULTS: Psychiatric comorbidity was high in both axes (74% for Axis I and 68% for Axis II). While most EDI subscales pertaining to psychological traits showed significant associations with Axis I and II disorders, the subscales concerning eating and perception of weight and shape were much less associated with psychiatric comorbidity. Affective and anxiety disorders, as well as personality disorders of clusters A and C, showed a similar pattern with links to most psychological subscales. The profile for substance-related disorders was different, showing associations with the Ineffectiveness and Interoceptive Awareness scales. Personality disorders of cluster B were related only to the Bulimia subscale and not to any of the psychological subscales. CONCLUSIONS: The EDI appears to primarily reflect Axis I and II disorders related to affective and anxiety problems. Clinicians and researchers employing the EDI should be aware that it is not sensitive for all forms of comorbidity prevalent in ED patients.     

Development and validity of a very short form of the Eating Disorder Inventory

IntroductionThe main objective of the present series of studies was to develop and validate a 16-item very short form of the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI-VS) for use as a short assessment tool in large-scale comprehensive or longitudinal studies, as well as in-depth idiographic studies.MethodThe EDI-VS was developed, and validated, through a series of five studies based on independent community samples including a total of 1372 French adolescents.ResultsThe results supported the reliability, content validity, factor validity, convergent validity, and criterion-related validity of the EDI-VS.ConclusionsThe EDI-VS comprises 16 items assessing the eight original dimensions of the conceptual model for the EDI. Recommendations for future practice and research on the EDI-VS are outlined.     

Validity of the Chinese version Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ) and the optimal cutoff screening bipolar disorders

To investigate the validity of the Chinese version of Mood Disorder Questionnaire (C-MDQ) in China. Patients with bipolar disorders (BP, N=284) and patients with unipolar depressive disorder (UP, N=134) were assessed with the C-MDQ. The Eigenvalues of the first two factors were 3.15 and 2.09, respectively. The Cronbach’s alpha of the C-MDQ was 0.79. The frequency of positive responses of UP patients was significantly lower than those of BP patients for 12 items except the seventh item. A C-MDQ screening score of seven or more was the best cutoff between BP and UP. The C-MDQ could distinguish between bipolar II disorder (BP-II) and UP, and the best cutoff was five. A cutoff of five had a sensitivity of 0.80 and a specificity of 0.54 between BP and UP. This study demonstrated the good validity of C-MDQ in China. The best cutoff between BP-II and UP can be regarded as the optimal cutoff between BP and UP to improve the sensitivity of screening for BP-II. Five should be the optimal cutoff between the BP and UP when only the 13 items of the questionnaire are used in China.     

Auditory Brain Stem Response (ABR) in Eating Disorder

Abstract: Auditory brain stem responses were recorded in 10 eating disorder patients and 10 normal control subjects. Absolute latencies, interwave latencies, absolute amplitudes, and amplitude ratios were investigated. A nonsignificant difference was found between the eating disorder group and the normal control group as far as the absolute latencies and interwave latencies were concerned. But the eating disorder patients had significantly smaller amplitude ratios (HI/I, IV-V/I) and absolute amplitude (V) than did the control subjects. These findings suggest that some dysfunction exists in the region of brain stem. It may be related with the pathophysiology in patients with eating disorder.     

The reliability and validity of the Norwegian version of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory, nursing home version (NPI-NH)

BACKGROUND: Psychiatric symptoms and behavioral disturbances are highly prevalent in the residents of nursing homes. The Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) is a commonly used scale for the assessment of such symptoms in diverse settings. We have conducted a study of the reliability and the validity of the Norwegian version of the NPI nursing home version (NPI-NH).METHODS: The reliability study comprised 41 patients. We established inter-rater reliability between raters with various levels of health education using kappa statistics. Fifty patients were included in the validity study. The patients were examined by a physician, who also rated the patient's behavior using "behavioral pathology in Alzheimer's disease" (BEHAVE-AD). Subsequently, a research nurse performed a standardized interview using the NPI and the Cornell scale. Concurrent validity of the NPI and the BEHAVE-AD was analyzed.RESULTS: Internal consistency, as measured by Cronbach's alpha was above 0.8. Inter-rater reliability was, except for one item, between 0.85 and 1.0 across assessors with different levels of health education. All correlations between the NPI and the BEHAVE-AD were significant, ranging from 0.38 to 0.72. The weakest correlations were between items assessing affective and anxiety symptoms.CONCLUSION: The Norwegian version of the NPI-NH is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing psychiatric symptoms and behavioral disturbances in the residents of nursing homes. The investigation of depressive symptoms merits particular attention.     

Eating Disorder Inventory in Sweden: description, cross-cultural comparison, and clinical utility

The Eating Disorder Inventory is one of very few tests for anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa that measures not only symptoms but also psychological characteristics believed to be central in these disorders. This study of 425 patients and control subjects showed that patients had markedly higher scores than controls and recovered patients on all eight scales. Individuals with bulimia nervosa scored higher on a few of the scales than those with anorexia nervosa, as did binge eaters at all weights compared with those who only restricted eating. Comparison with Canadian subjects showed several differences in normal controls. Since the technical properties of our Swedish version of the EDI were excellent, these differences may be meaningful rather than artifacts of the translation. Finally, the analyses indicated that the EDI may be useful for purposes of screening for eating disorders, and possibly for differential diagnosis.     

Exploratory factor analysis of the Brazilian version of the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist: civilian version (PCL-C)

ObjectiveTo evaluate the factor structure of the Brazilian Portuguese version of the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist – civilian version (PCL-C), in order to complement its validation process in Brazil.MethodAn exploratory factor analysis with promax rotation was conducted in 175 ambulance workers of the Emergence Rescue Group (GSE from Portuguese) of the Rio de Janeiro fire brigade and 343 military police officers (MP) (150 from an elite unit of the state of Goiás).ResultsThe results revealed a two-factor solution: re-experience/avoidance, numbing/hyperarousal. All variables loaded highly in at least one factor, except for one; variable 16. This item may have had a bad performance because the analysis was based on a sample of police officers, whose professional activity demands hypervigilance as one of its basic characteristics. Internal consistency values were acceptable.ConclusionsAvoidance and numbing seem to be independent dimensions, differently from what is expected according to the DSM-IV. Therefore, new trials should be carried out in other populations, with victims of different kinds of trauma, and including females, to verify these findings.     

A Therapeutic Approach to Treating the Eating Disorder/Borderline Personality Disorder Patient

The treatment of eating disorder patients is renowned for its challenges, complexities, and inherent risks. When eating disorder patients also exhibit concomitant personality disorders, such as borderline personality disorder, treatment may become extraordinarily difficult. Though the exact prevalence of this subgroup of patients is not explicitly known, current data suggests that patients with eating disorders and borderline personality disorder represent a significant subgroup of the general eating disorder population. Clearly, given the relative prevalence of this group of patients, and the somewhat limited available information to address the particular needs of this subgroup, further clinical exploration needs to be encouraged. This paper outlines the relevant characteristics of these patients that may be targets for initial treatment and suggests a multi-phase conceptual format for working with them.     

A Therapeutic Approach to Treating the Eating Disorder/Borderline Personality Disorder Patient

The treatment of eating disorder patients is renowned for its challenges, complexities, and inherent risks. When eating disorder patients also exhibit concomitant personality disorders, such as borderline personality disorder, treatment may become extraordinarily difficult. Though the exact prevalence of this subgroup of patients is not explicitly known, current data suggests that patients with eating disorders and borderline personality disorder represent a significant subgroup of the general eating disorder population. Clearly, given the relative prevalence of this group of patients, and the somewhat limited available information to address the particular needs of this subgroup, further clinical exploration needs to be encouraged. This paper outlines the relevant characteristics of these patients that may be targets for initial treatment and suggests a multi-phase conceptual format for working with them.     

Psychosis risk screening with the Prodromal Questionnaire--brief version (PQ-B)

In this study, we examined the preliminary concurrent validity of a brief version of the Prodromal Questionnaire (PQ-B), a self-report screening measure for psychosis risk syndromes. Adolescents and young adults (N=141) who presented consecutively for clinical assessment to one of two early psychosis research clinics at the University of California, San Francisco and UC Los Angeles completed the PQ-B and the Structured Interview for Prodromal Syndromes (SIPS) at intake. Endorsement of three or more positive symptoms on the PQ-B differentiated between those with prodromal syndrome and psychotic syndrome diagnoses on the SIPS versus those with no SIPS diagnoses with 89% sensitivity, 58% specificity, and a positive Likelihood Ratio of 2.12. A Distress Score measuring the distress or impairment associated with endorsed positive symptoms increased the specificity to 68%, while retaining similar sensitivity of 88%. Agreement was very similar when participants with psychotic syndromes were excluded from the analyses. These results suggest that the PQ-B may be used as an effective, efficient self-report screen for prodromal psychosis syndromes when followed by diagnostic interview, in a two-stage evaluation process in help-seeking populations.     

Use of the Chinese version of the Beck Depression Inventory for screening depression in primary care

Many Asian-Americans are unfamiliar with depression and its treatment. When depressed, they generally seek treatment from their primary care physicians and complain about their physical symptoms, resulting in under-recognition and under-treatment of depression. This study evaluates the effectiveness of the Chinese version of the Beck Depression Inventory (CBDI) for screening depression among Chinese-Americans in primary care. A total of 503 Chinese-Americans in the primary care clinic of a community health center were administered the CBDI for depression screening. Patients who screened positive (CBDI > or = 16) were interviewed by a psychiatrist using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R, patient version (SCID-I/P) for confirmation of the diagnosis. Patients who screened negative (CBDI < 16) were randomly selected to be interviewed using the depression module of the SCID-I/P. The results of the SCID-I/P interview were used as the standard for evaluating the sensitivity and specificity of the CBDI. A total of 815 Chinese-Americans in a primary care clinic were approached, and 503 completed the CBDI. Seventy-six (15%) screened positive (CBDI > or = 16), and the prevalence of major depression was 19.6% by using extrapolated results from SCID-I/P interviews. When administered by a native-speaking research assistant, the CBDI has good sensitivity (.79), specificity (.91), positive predictive value (.79), and negative predictive value (.91). Despite the commonly believed tendency to focus on physical symptoms rather than depressed mood, Chinese-Americans are able to report symptoms of depression in response to a questionnaire. The CBDI, when administered by research assistants, has good sensitivity and specificity in recognizing major depression in this population. Lack of interest among Chinese-American patients in using the CBDI as a self-rating instrument has limited its use for depression screening in primary care settings.     

Polish version of Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI): the analysis of reliability

The reliability of every main scale of the Polish version of Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) was proven on the group of 144 students.     

Psychometric properties of the Italian version of the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire (DCDQ-Italian)

A valid tool that contributes to the diagnosis of Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is represented by the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire 2007 (DCDQ’07). Recently we developed the Italian version of DCDQ (DCDQ-Italian). The aim of this study was to further analyze the psychometric properties in a sample of Italian school children aged 5–12 years and to establish cut-off scores with respect to age groups. A total of 698 parents completed the DCDQ-Italian and 45 of them repeated it after 2 weeks for test–retest reliability. One hundred and seventeen children were tested using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children. Confirmatory factor analysis supported this version to be consistent with the original. Cronbach's alpha for the total score was 0.89 and test–retest reliability was 0.88. Two-ways ANOVA for total and single subscales showed a significant main effect for age group only and not for gender. Sensitivity and specificity for our community based sample were 59% and 65% respectively, considering the cut-off scores for the 15th percentile of M-ABC and increasing when age groups were taken into account (ROC curve = 0.62). The agreement with the original was good if 15th is considered. This is the first study on the psychometric property of DCDQ in a community sample of Italian children. The DCDQ-Italian could be used as a screening tool for motor coordination difficulties in Italian children. Slight differences in cut-offs should be considered when using this version.     

Validation of the Italian version of the Neurological Disorders Depression Inventory for Epilepsy (NDDI-E)

The Neurological Disorders Depression Inventory for Epilepsy (NDDI-E) was developed for the rapid detection of a major depressive episode in people with epilepsy. It has been proven to be a user-friendly screening instrument. This study describes the development, validation, and psychometric properties of the Italian version of the NDDI-E. A consecutive sample of 120 outpatients with epilepsy has been assessed using the M.I.N.I. Plus version 5.0.0 and the NDDI-E. All patients had no major difficulties in understanding or answering the questions of the Italian version. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.851. Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed an area under the curve of 0.943 (CI95%=0.902-0.985; SE 0.021; p<0.001), a cut off score of 13, a sensitivity of 86.2%, a specificity of 89%, a positive predictive value of 71.4%, and a negative predictive value of 95.3%.