Validation of a Questionnaire for Clinical Seizure Diagnosis

A detailed questionnaire has been devised for diagnosis of seizure type. It is suitable for administration by trained interviewers, either directly or by telephone. A comparison of physician-based and questionnaire-based diagnoses showed almost perfect agreement in classification of patients into those with seizures of either generalized or focal origin. Substantial to almost-perfect agreement was reached in diagnosis of patients with most individual seizure types. Disagreement in differentiation between simple and complex partial seizures (CPS) probably reflects the limitations of the clinical method rather than of the questionnaire itself. The questionnaire should be of value in large-scaled clinical and epidemiologic studies.     

Factorial structure of the Waterloo Handedness Questionnaire for control and learning-disabled adults.

This study examined the factorial structure of the 32-item version of the Waterloo Handedness Questionnaire (Steenhuis & Bryden, 1989) with a sample of control (n = 325) and learning-disabled (LD) (n = 147) subjects. On the basis of Principal Components Analyses, we have replicated the work of Steenhuis and Bryden (1989) who suggested that hand preference factors for control subjects are multifactorial in nature and are related more to "skilled" and "less skilled" activities rather than on distal/proximal musculature. Further, we have found that the factor structure for hand preference in LD adults is somewhat different than of normally achieving adults. The primary difference occurred within Factor 2. Unlike control subjects, whose Factor 2 items were classified as "less skilled" and preference was less lateralized, items loading on this factor for LD subjects were classified as "skilled" and showed strongly lateralized responses for both left and right handers. Presumably, LD adults show a less marked distinction between "skilled" and "less skilled" unimanual motor activities than control subjects suggesting different degrees of manual laterality between the groups.     

Description and validation of the Affective Temperament Questionnaire

Background

Akiskal and Mallya (Psychopharmacol Bull. 1987;23:68-73) proposed criteria defining 4 affective temperaments—hyperthymic, irritable, cyclothymic, and dysthymic. This study aims to develop and validate, using a 3-point rating scale, a short questionnaire that assesses these temperaments.

Methods

The Affective Temperament Questionnaire (ATQ) was administered to a family-based sample of individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD), bipolar disorder (BP), or no mood disorder (N = 378). Factor analyses, internal consistency, and analysis of variance were undertaken to examine the factorial structure and concurrent validity (relative to Axis I mood disorder diagnosis) of the ATQ. Affective Temperament Questionnaire data were evaluated with respect to raw scores and dominant affective temperament.

Results

Three factors emerged—hyperthymia, cyclothymia, and dysthymia—which had moderate to high internal consistency. Support for the concurrent validity of ATQ was found, whereby temperament scores and rates of dominant affective temperaments differed with respect to mood disorder diagnosis. Hyperthymia and cyclothymia were more prevalent among individuals with BP than among individuals with MDD or no history of a mood disorder. Dysthymia occurred at a relatively similar rate among individuals with MDD or BP.

Conclusions

Our findings support the use of the ATQ for collecting information regarding affective temperaments and for furthering understanding regarding the links between affective temperament and mood disorders.     

Validation study of the Depressive Experience Questionnaire

Sidney Blatt, considering as being insufficient the categorical-symptomatic approach of depression, has worked out a theory of depression and psychopathology that integrates the contributions of psychoanalysis as well as cognitive and developmental psychology. Within a broad psychoanalytic framework, Blatt's formulation focus on the quality of interpersonal relationship, the nature of object representation and early life experiences. Personality development is viewed as the consequence of the interaction of 2 basic developmental tasks: the establishment of the capacity to form stable, enduring, mutually satisfying interpersonal relationships and the achievement of a differentiated, realistic, essentially positive identity. The relationship between these 2 developmental lines involves a complex dialectical process during which progress in each line is essential for progress in the other and which contributes to the development of both a sense of identity and the capacity for interpersonal relatedness. These developmental lines permit not only to define an during individual's primary personality configuration but also enable to identify cognitive structures that are inherent in various forms of psychopathology, including depression. Disruptions at different developmental stages create vulnerability to different subsequent psychological disturbances. Blatt characterised as anaclitic or dependent the axis concerned with interpersonal relationship and as introjective or self-critical the axis concerned with development of the sense of self and identity. Depressive Experience Questionnaire was developed by Blatt et al. to determine the validity of this model of psychopathology which emphazises continuities between normal and pathological forms of depression. The instrument was developed by Blatt et al. by assembling a pool of items describing experiences frequently reported by depressed individual. Sixty-six items were selected and administered to a large nonclinical sample (500 female and 160 male undergraduates). Principal component analysis within sex performed on the answers to DEQ confirmed his assumption in identifying two principal depressive dimensions. The first factor involved items that are primarily externally directed and refer to a disturbance of interpersonal relationships (anaclitism); the second factor consists of items that are more internally directed and reflect concerns about self-identity (self-criticism). A third factor emerged, assessing the good functioning of subject and confidence in his resources and capacities (efficacy). Scales derived from these factors have high internal consistency and substantial test-retest reliability. The solutions for men and women were highly congruent. Factor structure has been replicated in several nonclinical and clinical samples, supporting considerable evidence to the construct validity of the DEQ Dependency and Self-criticism scales. An adolescent form of DEQ (DEQ-A) has successively been developed. Factor analysis revealed three factors that were highly congruent in female and male students and with the three factors of the original DEQ. The reliability, internal consistency and validity of DEQ-A indicate that the DEQ-A closely parallels the DEQ, especially in the articulation of Dependency and Self-criticism as two factors in depression. These formulations and clinical observations about the importance of differentiating a depression focused on issues of self-criticism from issues of dependency are consistent with the formulations of others theorists which, from very different theoretical perspectives, posit 2 types of depression, one in which either perceived loss or rejection in social relationships is central and the other in which perceived failure in achievement, guilt or lack of control serves as the precipitant of depression. These 2 types of experiences have been characterized as dominant other and dominant goal , as anxiously attached and compulsively self-reliant and as sociotropic and autonomous . Our work presents the results of a validation study of both forms of Blatt's questionnaire (for adults--DEQ--and for adolescents--DEQA) translated in French in a large population of normal subjects, aged 15 to 45 years. DEQ and DEQ-A were compared by inspection of items loading strongly on each factor and by correlation of the three factors of adults and adolescents. The exploratory factor analysis of DEQ and DEQA revealed three orthogonal factors, corresponding with Blatt's original dimensions. Consistency and external validity were adequate for all 3 factors of DEQ and DEQ-A. Anaclitism and self-criticism dimensions of DEQ and DEQ-A correlate positively with measures of depression (DSM-IV, Beck Depression Inventory), consistently with the results obtained by Blatt. Differently from this author, anaclitism appears to be less differentiated in males than in females, suggesting that the concept of dependence could assume different relevance for men and women.     

Validation analysis of the Attention Questionnaire Scale

Screening tests that briefly measure early signs of cognitive dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease (AD) are lacking. We devised a new scale focused on early detecting cognitive dysfunction: the Attention Questionnaire Scale (AQS). We prospectively studied the AQS in 268 subjects with varying degrees of cognitive dysfunction and compared it with the Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE), digit span test, trail making test part B, letter cancellation test, Instrumental ADL, Geriatric Depression Scale, and Clinical Dementia Rating Scale. The internal consistency was excellent with the AQS (Cronbach's α = 0.945). There were significant differences in the overall AQS scores across varying degree of cognitive dysfunction (26.80 ± 3.43 in normal elderly, 20.78 ± 4.83 in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), 19.01 ± 4.49 in early AD, 16.00 ± 5.03 in mild AD, and 12.02 ± 6.28 in moderate AD), and subjects with the early stage of cognitive dysfunction could be further distinguished using the AQS than MMSE. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was estimated to be 0.93 (95% confidence interval 0.89-0.97) in screening for normal elderly versus patients with MCI or various stages of AD. The AQS provides greater screening ability for early stage cognitive dysfunction, used not only as a screening tool but also an appropriate simple questionnaire.     

Validation of the Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaire in a Total Population Sample

There is a lack of instruments validated for screening of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in general populations and primary care settings. The Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaire (ASSQ) has previously been shown to have good screening properties in clinical settings. We used the ASSQ to screen a total population of 7–9 year-olds (N = 9430) for ASD in the Bergen Child Study. Parents and teachers filled in the ASSQ, and high-scorers were invited for clinical assessment, along with a large group of screen negative children. We found that the ASSQ was well suited as a general population screen. Combining parent and teacher ASSQ and using cut-off score of ≥17 provided the most efficient screen with sensitivity of 0.91 and specificity of 0.86.     

The Pediatric Stroke Recurrence and Recovery Questionnaire: Validation in a prospective cohort

OBJECTIVE: We developed the Recurrence and Recovery Questionnaire (RRQ) by converting the Pediatric Stroke Outcome Measure (PSOM) to a questionnaire for telephone interview and sought to validate the RRQ in a large cohort. METHOD: We analyzed parents' RRQ responses and same-day PSOM assessments for 232 children who had arterial ischemic stroke, cerebral sinovenous thrombosis, or presumed perinatal ischemic stroke. We assessed the agreement and consistency of the PSOM and RRQ, and we identified conditions that contributed to differences between the 2 measures. We tested selected factors as predictors of differences between the total PSOM and total RRQ (tPSOM and tRRQ) scores. RESULTS: Median PSOM score was 1.5 and median RRQ score was 1.5. There was good agreement between tPSOM and tRRQ, and RRQ was a reliable estimator of PSOM at the total and component level. Preexisting neurologic deficits or chronic illnesses increased the difference between the tPSOM and tRRQ; the chronic illness effect was confirmed with univariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The RRQ can characterize poststroke function when a child cannot return for examination. While the RRQ is not identical to the PSOM, the 2 measures likely assess closely related aspects of recovery. The RRQ is particularly useful when assessing outcomes of large cohorts, and will be useful in performing long-term follow-up studies of pediatric stroke.     

Validation and psychometric properties of the German Capability for Suicide Questionnaire

Objective

Our study aimed at the validation of the newly developed German Capability for Suicide Questionnaire, the GCSQ. It is supposed to assess both fearlessness of death and pain tolerance, both facets of the acquired capability to commit suicide as postulated by the interpersonal theory of suicide.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted on two clinical (n = 424) and an online sample (n = 532). Factor structure, convergent and discriminant validity, predictive validity as well as test–retest reliability were investigated.

Results

Two factors—“Fearlessness of Death” and “Pain Tolerance”—were derived. One item, the “perceived capability” item, assesses the subject's self-perception of acquired capability. Both subscales and the “perceived capability”-item demonstrate good construct validity and a high test–retest reliability. Fearlessness of death proves to be predictive for the occurrence of suicidal behaviors, whereas the importance of pain tolerance for suicidal behaviors was not confirmed. The subject's perception of his own capability is of high predictive value for both attempt status and suicidal behaviors.

Conclusion

The GCSQ seems to be a useful measure of pain tolerance, fearlessness of death and the self-perception of acquired capability of suicide.     

Translation and Validation of the Caffeine Expectancy Questionnaire (CaffEQ)

Caffeine is the most widely used psychoactive drug in the world. Expectancies for drug effects play a central role not only for drug initiation, use, cessation, and relapse, but also influence actual drug effects. In order to investigate caffeine expectancies and thereby increase knowledge and understanding of this legal drug, but also of substance use in general, an empirically sound research instrument is needed. In this study the English version of the ”Caffeine Expectancy Questionnaire (CaffEQ)” was translated and validated. The questionnaire consists of 47 items assessing expectancies of the psychological and physical effects of caffeine. The original version was translated thoroughly into German. The German CaffEQ was administered to a sample of N = 352 participants along with other relevant measures of interest. Psychometric properties could mostly be replicated. An exploratory factor analysis confirmed the seven factor solution and appropriate internal consistency was achieved. Convergent validity revealed high correlations with average daily caffeine consumption and symptoms of caffeine use disorder. By confirming validity and reliability of the German CaffEQ version a useful instrument is now available for assessment of caffeine expectancies of adults and its influence on the development of caffeine use disorder.     

Validation of the Mood and Anxiety Symptom Questionnaire in Korean Adolescents

ObjectiveThe tripartite model categorizes symptoms of depression and anxiety into three groups: 1) non-specific general distress that is shared between depression and anxiety, 2) depression-specific symptoms that include low positive affect and loss of interest, and 3) anxiety-specific symptoms that include somatic arousal. The Mood and Anxiety Symptoms Questionnaire (MASQ) was developed to measure these three factors of depression and anxiety. The purpose of the present study was to test the psychometric properties of the Korean version of the MASQ (K-MASQ) in adolescents.MethodsCommunity-dwelling adolescents (n=933) were randomly assigned to two groups. Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were conducted in each group to identify the factor structure of the K-MASQ. The reliability and validity of the K-MASQ were also evaluated.ResultsOur results support the three-factor structure of the K-MASQ in adolescents. However, we found that the specific items of each factor differed from those of the original MASQ. That is, the depression-specific factor was only related to low positive affect and not loss of interest, and the anxiety-specific factor included more items related to general somatic symptoms of anxiety. The reliability and validity of the K-MASQ were found to be satisfactory.ConclusionThe K-MASQ supports the tripartite model of depression and anxiety and has satisfactory reliability and validity among Korean adolescents. The K-MASQ can be used to distinguish unique symptoms of depression and anxiety in Korean adolescents.     

Validation of the Body Dysmorphic Disorder Questionnaire in a community sample of Swedish women

Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is characterized by a distressing and impairing preoccupation with a nonexistent or slight defect in appearance. Patients with the disorder present to both psychiatric and non-psychiatric physicians. A few studies have assessed BDD prevalence in the general population and have shown that the disorder is relatively common. To date, no BDD assessment instruments have been validated in the general population. Our aim was to validate a brief self-screening instrument, the Body Dysmorphic Disorder Questionnaire (BDDQ), in a female community sample. The BDDQ was translated into Swedish and filled out by 2891 women from a randomly selected community sample. The questionnaire was validated in a subsample of 88 women, using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID) together with clinical assessment as the gold standard. In the validation subsample, the BDDQ showed good concurrent validity, with a sensitivity of 94%, a specificity of 90% and a likelihood ratio of 9.4. The questionnaire can therefore be of value when screening for BDD in female populations.     

Validation of the Spanish version of the Perceived Stress Questionnaire

OBJECTIVE: To validate in Spanish the Perceived Stress Questionnaire (PSQ), a questionnaire to assess stress for research purposes in psychosomatic patients. METHOD: The test was administered to a healthy population (N=174) of nursing students and health workers and to a clinical sample (N=80) of patients attending a psychiatric outpatient consultation. RESULTS: Concurrent validity: General and Recent PSQ scores correlated high with trait anxiety (r=.65), moderate with depression (r=.46) and psychological disturbance (r=.51) and poor with state anxiety (r=.22). Predictive validity: PSQ scores were higher in "psychiatric cases" than in "psychiatric noncases" (P<.01), and correlated highly with somatic symptoms of psychological origin (r=.62) in the clinical subsample. Internal consistency was 0.9 for the General and 0.87 for the Recent PSQ. Test-retest reliability of the General PSQ was 0.80. DISCUSSION: The Spanish version of PSQ presents good psychometric properties and it seems to be a valuable instrument for psychosomatic researchers.     

Handedness and part-whole relationships: a replication

Nebes' 1971 experiment reporting a deficit in the performance of left-handed subjects on a measure of part-whole relationships was replicated, controlling for family history of handedness and for experimenter knowledge of subject handedness. No differences were found for any comparisons. Results are examined in relation to similar failures to replicate, indicating that the arc-circle measure does not reliably discriminate any visual-spatial differences associated with handedness.     

Validation of the French version of the Body Shape Questionnaire

In today's societies, pressures from the idea of thinness are omnipresent and lead to a corporal dissatisfaction with an excessive preoccupation of the body's image. It seems important to have, in France, a device that can evaluate the corporal dissatisfaction degree, for the reason that the troubles of the body's image is a common diagnostical category to the anorexia and bulimia (DSM IV, 1994). Cooper et al. (1987) have developed one-dimensional questionnaire of 34 items in order to measure the worries towards the weight and the shape of the body, called the "Body Shape Questionnaire" (BSQ). Its concurrent validity has been shown with the using of the corporal dissatisfaction under-scale of the Eating Disorders Inventory (EDI; Garner et Olmsted, 1984) and the using of the diagnostical questionnaire: Eating Attitude Test (EAT; Garner et Garfinkel, 1979). The BSQ gives us a way to explore the role of extreme worries towards the body's apparence in the development, the keeping and the treatment of eating disorders. From this point the BSQ is a tool widely used on an international level in researches on the eating disorders. It has been validited in Spain and in Germany whereas it has not been yet subject to a validation in France. For this reason, we proposed to use the BSQ on the french population. METHODOLOGY: The sample is made of 242 university girl students. The average age is 20.7 years old with an standard deviation of 2.26. The size and the weight helped us to calculate the Body Mass Index (BMI) which is in fact the weight divided by the size squared. The average BMI is 21.06 kg/m2 +/- 2.87. Regarding the evaluating devices, the BSQ is presented as a scale of 34 items marked by 6 different points: 1 never, 2 barely, 3 sometimes, 4 often, 5 very often, 6 always. After getting the authorization form the authors to respect during these kinds of procedures, we have started validation. The corporal dissatisfaction under-scale of Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI, Garner et al., 1991) is made of 9 items and has a scale of 6 points going from "never" to "always". In order to evaluate the accuracy of the Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ) in France, we made a test/retest. The concurrent validity of the BSQ has been evaluated by the EDI. The 242 subjects have been asked to fill in both questionnaires during the test and the re-test (4 weeks after the test). We have evaluated the accuracy of the BSQ with the calculation of the constancy test/retest (Pearson's r) and the measure of the internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha). Then, we tested the validity regarding an external criteria. The validation procedure is based here on an examination of the correlations between the tests results (BSQ) and another measure taken as criteria (EDI). The solutions proposed by the factorial exploratory analysis have been tested by confirmatory analysis using the 2 index of adjustment: the GFI ("Goodness of Fit Index") and the CFI (Comparative Index of Bentler) which, greater than 0.85, shows a satisfying adjustment and the RMC (redidue) which has to be less than 0.10 for a satisfying adjustment. Finally, inferential statistical analysis have studied the relations between the weight's category and the total result at the BSQ and the results of the factors sprung from factorial analysis. RESULTS: Correlations between the items of test/re-test BSQ are greater than 0.93. The alpha coefficient is high for the test (0.95) and also for the re-test (0.94). This shows a very good internal consistency between the 34 items of the BSQ. Concerning the EDI, the correlation between the test/re-test are greater than 0.98. The alpha coefficient of Cronbach is high: 0.85 for the test and 0.84 for the re-test. The Pearson's r of the BSQ/EDI test and the BSQ/EDI re-test greater than 0.7 point out the concomitant validity of the BSQ with the EDI.We made a factorial analysis of the BSQ (test) on the 242 subjects. We used the extraction of the main components method with the extraction's rule of the curve for the real values. The transformation method used here is the normalised Varimax. The factorial analysis shows four factors with their own value greater or equal to 1 (15.1; 1.77; 1.48; 1.08). This solution concerning these four factors explains 55.2% of the total variance. The oblical rotations analysis of the four factors seems to point out a high correlation between these latters (from 0.54 to 0.77), this suggests a hierarchical pattern with a single factor which is confirmed with an Cronbach's alpha of 0.95. Then, we chose to gather around each selected factors the items presenting a substantial saturation, greater than or equal to 0.5 and which are saturated by only one factor. The first factor obtained by the factorial analysis of the BSQ has been called "social avoidance and shame of the exposure of the body". The internal coherence of this factor is satisfactory (Cronbach's alpha = 0.87). The second factor obtained has been called "body dissatisfaction compared to the lower parts ot the body (Cronbach's alpha = 0.90). The third factor has been called "using laxatives and vomiting in order to reduce body dissatisfaction" The fourth factor has been called "unsuited cognitions and behaviours in order to control the weight (Cronbach's alpha = 0.76). The solution with 1 and 4 factors has been tested by a confirmatory analysis. The adjustment parameters of the unifactorial pattern were not satisfactory (GFI = 0.76, CFI = 0.83, RMC = 0.5). The 4 factors pattern adjusted better to the data (GFI = 0.86, CFI = 0.90, RMC = 0.5).In order to determinate the differences between the weight/score categories to the BSQ) score in comparison to the 4 factors (coming from the factorial analysis), several Anova have been released as well as post-hoc tests (test of Sheffé). There is a significant effect of the weight category on the corporal dissatisfaction (BSQ result), F (2.230) = 11.34; p < 0.0001. Scheffe's test placed in a prominent position the fact that the subjects having an overweight (99.85 +/- 31.34) have a corporal dissatisfaction significantly greater than the subjects having a normal weight (74.08 +/- 27.94) and presenting a thinness (63.19 +/- 23.61). We pointed out a significant effect of the weight category on factor one "social avoidance and shame of the exposure of the body" [F (2.232) = 20.18; p < 0.001], on factor 2 "body dissatisfaction compared to the lower parts of the body" [F (2.232) = 6.38; p < 0.005] and factor 4 "reduce body dissatisfaction and unsuited cognitions and behaviours in order to control the weight" [F (2.232) = 5.67; p < 0.005]. However, there is no effect in the weight category for factor 3 "using laxatives and cominting in order to reduce the corporal dissatisfaction" [F (2.232) = 5.67; p > 0.05]. Sheffe's test highlighted the fact that the subjects having overweight have a result more important than the ones having a normal weight and presenting a thinness for factor 1.2 and 4. DISCUSSION: The BSQ "French version" seems in fact to present the same metrical qualities than its original Anglo-Saxon and Spanish versions. The concluding results invite us to continue our study of the BSQ including in our patients, the bulimic subjects and the ones who are worried about corporal aspect. Its implications on the clinical field could be really interesting especially on people suffering from the eating disorders. Then, the BSQ could provide us a way to explore the role of an extreme worry of the body's appearance in the development, the maintenance and the treatment of the eating disorders.     

Validation of the Multiple Sclerosis Neuropsychological Screening Questionnaire in Argentina

BACKGROUNDS: Considering the lack of screening technology that would permit neurologists to identify patients who may benefit from formal or more comprehensive assessment of neuropsychological status in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) in Argentina, we felt the need to validate the Multiple Sclerosis Neuropsychological Screening Questionnaire (MSNQ) developed by Benedict, et al. OBJECTIVE: The objective in this multicenter study was to test the reliability and validity of the MSNQ after translation into Spanish in Argentina. We also compared the MSNQ yield by the patient report with that of the two different informants. The sample included 125 patients with MS and 36 normal controls, 27 patients had two informants available and 23 patients and their informants were examined twice at 1-week intervals (test-retest group). All participants completed the MSNQ, RAO BRB, Beck Depression Inventory-Fast Screen, EDSS, and MS Functional Composite. RESULTS: We found that an MSNQ-I score of 26 or more resulted in classifications yielding sensitivity of 0.91 and specificity of 0.80, suggesting some utility for this Argentine, informant-report measure. CONCLUSIONS: This Spanish version of the MSNQ is reliable and useful as a screening test for identifying patients at high risk for cognitive impairment in MS.     

Validation of the Korean version of the Boston Autonomic Symptom Questionnaire

Background and PurposeThe Boston Autonomic Symptom Questionnaire (BASQ) is a quantitative tool using a numeric rating scale to assess the symptoms of systemic dysautonomia, including cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, urinary, sudomotor, vasomotor, and sexual functions. The aim of this study was to validate the Korean version of the BASQ (KBASQ).MethodsProspectively enrolled subjects who submitted to autonomic function tests, including tests for cardiovagal, adrenergic, and sudomotor functions, also completed the KBASQ and the Korean version of the Orthostatic Grading Scale (KOGS), a validated questionnaire or assessing orthostatic symptoms.Twenty-eight subjects completed the KBASQ twice to assess test-retest reliability. We classified the subjects to dysautonomia or normal control group according to dysautonomic symptoms and the results of autonomic function tests.ResultsThis study enrolled 225 subjects aged 54.0±18.1 years (mean±standard deviation), with a male/female ratio of 1/1.03. The internal validity of the KBASQ was excellent (Cronbach''s α=0.922), and that of each of its subscales ranged from excellent to acceptable (Cronbach''s α=0.709–0.952). The test-retest reliability was good, with correlation coefficients ranging from 0.354 to 0.917. The subcategory scores for the KBASQ were significantly higher in the dysautonomia group than in the normal control group. There were significant correlations among the items in the KBASQ and KOGS. There was also a significant correlation between KBASQ scores and the results of the autonomic function tests.ConclusionsThe internal validity and reliability of the KBASQ were good, indicating that it may be a useful screening tool for the systematic evaluation of autonomic symptoms in patients with dysautonomia.     

Validation of the Korean Version of the Anosognosia Questionnaire for Dementia

ObjectiveAnosognosia is a common phenomenon in individuals with dementia. Anosognosia Questionnaire for dementia (AQ-D) is a well-known scale for evaluating anosognosia. This study aimed to establish a Korean version of the AQ-D (AQ-D-K) and to evaluate the reliability and validity of the AQ-D-K in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) dementia. MethodsWe translated the original English version of AQ-D into Korean (AQ-D-K). Eighty-four subjects with very mild or mild AD dementia and their caregivers participated. Reliability of AQ-D-K was assessed by internal consistency and one-month test-retest reliability. Construct validity and concurrent validity were also evaluated. ResultsInternal consistencies of the AQ-D-K patient form and caregiver form were high (Cronbach alpha 0.95 and 0.93, respectively). The test-retest reliability of AQ-D-K measured by intra-class correlation coefficient was 0.84. Three factors were identified: 1) anosognosia of instrumental activity of daily living; 2) anosognosia basic activity of daily living; and 3) anosognosia of depression and disinhibition. AQ-D-K score was significantly correlated with the clinician-rated anosognosia rating scale (ARS), center for epidemiological studies-depression scale (CES-D) and state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI). ConclusionThe findings suggest that the AQ-D-K is a reliable and valid scale for evaluating anosognosia for AD dementia patients using Korean language.