A systematic review of instruments to measure depressive symptoms in patients with schizophrenia

BackgroundDepressive symptoms require accurate recognition and monitoring in clinical practice of patients with schizophrenia. Depression instruments developed for use in depressed patients may not discriminate depressive symptoms from negative psychotic symptoms.ObjectiveWe reviewed depression instruments on their reliability and validity in patients with schizophrenia.MethodologyA systematic literature search was carried out in three electronic databases. Psychometric properties were extracted for those instruments of which reliability, divergent, concurrent and predictive validity were reported in one or more publications.ResultsForty-eight publications described the reliability and validity of six depression instruments in patients with schizophrenia. The only self-report was the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). The Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale—Depression subscale (BPRS-D), Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale—Depression subscale (PANSS-D), Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD), Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS) were clinician rated. All instruments were reliable for the measurement of depressive symptoms in patients with schizophrenia. The CDSS most accurately differentiated depressive symptoms from other symptoms of schizophrenia (divergent validity), correlated well with other depression instruments (concurrent validity), and was least likely to miss cases of depression or misdiagnose depression (predictive validity).ConclusionsWe would recommend to use the CDSS for the measurement of depressive symptoms in research and in daily clinical practice of patients with schizophrenia. A valid self-report instrument is to be developed for the use in clinical practice.     

Reliability and validity of the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status in community-dwelling elderly

Introduction

The Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) is a widely used screening instrument in neuropsychological assessment and is a brief, individually administered measure. The present study aims to assess the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the RBANS in community-dwelling elderly.

Material and methods

All subjects come from the community-dwelling elderly in Shanghai, China. They completed a questionnaire concerning demographic information, the mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and the Chinese version of the RBANS. To test for internal consistency, Cronbach''s α was calculated for all six RBANS indices. Correlations between each of the RBANS and MMSE subtests were conducted to measure the concurrent validity. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted to test the construct validity.

Results

The final sample of participants included 236 community-dwelling elderly. The mean total score on the RBANS was 86.02 (±14.19). The RBANS total score showed strong internal consistency (r = 0.806), and the coefficient α value for each of the RBANS scales ranged from 0.142 to 0.727. The total RBANS score was highly correlated with that of the MMSE (r = 0.594, p<0.001), and the RBANS subtests also demonstrated strong correlations with most of the MMSE subtests. The results of the CFA indicated an acceptable fit between the Chinese version of the RBANS and the original.

Conclusions

The Chinese version of the RBANS had relatively good reliability and validity in a community-dwelling elderly sample. It may be a useful screening instrument for conducting cognitive assessments in community-dwelling elderly.     

Norms,reliability, and concurrent validity measures of the Portuguese version of the depression adjective check lists

This study reports normative data of depressive mood in Brazil, using a Portuguese version of the Depression Adjective Check Lists (DACL; Lubin, 1981, in press). Participants (N = 1,063) were college students drawn from randomly selected courses in 10 Brazilian universities. Cross-cultural comparisons showed that this Brazilian sample had significantly higher depressive scores compared to Hispanic (p < .01), American (p < .01), and Israeli (p < .05) samples. The results also indicated that Brazilian females (p < .05) and young adults (p < .05) reported significantly more depressive mood than males and older adults, respectively. All reliability (internal consistency, split-half, and alternate form) and concurrent validity measures were found to be appropriate and compared well to other cross-cultural samples.     

计算机与手册式简明精神分裂症认知评估测验的比较

目的比较简明精神分裂症认知评估测验（Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia,BACS）的计算机与手册式版本对精神分裂症患者认知功能评定的结果。方法60例符合DSM-IV诊断标准的精神分裂症患者分为两组，30例先接受计算机BACS测验，4周后接受手册式BACS测验；另30例先接受手册式测验，4周后接受计算机测验。然后将两组数据交叉合并，采用配对t检验，比较计算机及手册式版本BACS的结果有无差异。结果在BACS中7项分测验中，除代币运动（TM）为手工操作外，其它分测验涉及计算机与手册式施测的不同，包括符号编码（SC）、言语记忆（VM）、数字序列（DS）、语义流畅性（CF）、字词流畅性（WF）、伦敦塔（TL）。这些分测验的比较t值分别为-0．339（P-0．736）、-1.901（P=0．062）、-1．549（P=0．127）、0．807（P=0．423）、0．121（P=0．904）、-．744（P=．008），两种版本的5项分测验之间无统计学意义，仅有伦敦塔具有差异性。结论BACS的计算机与手册式版本之间总体上无显著性差异，因此，可以认为BACS计算机化版本是基本成功的，改进后可以推广使用。     

The Turkish version of the Neck Bournemouth Questionnaire in patients with chronic neck pain: a cultural adaptation,reliability, and validity study

IntroductionThe cultural adaptation of a self-report measurement in different languages is important for developing common strategies for evaluation and treatment. The Neck Bournemouth Questionnaire (NBQ), which was developed to evaluate patients with neck pain, was adapted from the Bournemouth Questionnaire in accordance with the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) categories. The aim of this study was to conduct the Turkish cultural adaptation, validity and reliability study of the NBQ.Material and methodsThe study included 119 patients (93 females, 26 males; mean age: 37.2 ±11.8 years) with chronic nonspecific neck pain. The NBQ, Neck Disability Index (NDI) and Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) questionnaires were administered to all the subjects. Test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient) and the internal consistency (Cronbach’s α) were the methods used for the reliability study. The relationship between NBQ, NDI and NHP was investigated for concurrent validity. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis was used for construct validity.ResultsThe Neck Bournemouth Questionnaire showed good internal consistency (α = 0.87). The test-retest reliability coefficient was 0.913 (95% CI: 0.875–0.940). The correlations between NBQ and NDI and NHP were significant (p < 0.05). The questionnaire was found to have one factor and the explained variance was 59.084% as a result of factor analysis.ConclusionsThe Neck Bournemouth Questionnaire is a valid and reliable scale for patients with chronic neck pain in the Turkish population.     

Validation of the Korean-Version of the Clinical Assessment Interview for Negative Symptoms of Schizophrenia (CAINS)

The Clinical Assessment Interview for Negative Symptoms (CAINS) was developed to overcome the limitations of existing instruments and reflect the current view of negative symptoms. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Korean version of the Clinical Assessment Interview for Negative Symptoms (K-CAINS). Inpatients (n = 49) and outpatients (n = 70) with schizophrenia were recruited from three institutions. The confirmative factor analysis, test-retest reliability, inter-rater reliability, convergent validity, and discriminant validity were assessed. The study group consisted of 71 males (59.7%) and 48 females (40.3%). Their mean age was 42.15 years (SD = 12.2). The K-CAINS was confirmed to be divided into two subscales of 9 items related to "motivation/pleasure" and 4 items related to "expression" in concordance with the original version of the CAINS. The results showed that the K-CAINS had a good inter-rater reliability (ICC = 0.84-0.94), test-retest reliability (r = 0.90, P < 0.001). Convergent validity was proven by demonstrating a significant correlation with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) negative subscale, and the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS). Discriminant validity was proven by the lack of a significant correlation with the PANSS positive subscale, the Korean version of the Beck depression inventory (BDI), the Korean version of the Calgary depression scale for schizophrenia (K-CDSS), and the Modified Simpson Angus scale (MSAS). The K-CAINS could be a reliable and valid tool to assess the negative symptoms of Korean schizophrenia patients.     

Validation of the EuroQol Five-dimensions - Three-Level Quality of Life Instrument in a Classical Indian Language (Odia) and Its Use to Assess Quality of Life and Health Status of Cancer Patients in Eastern India

Results:The QOL worsened with age and was worse in cancer patients proved that the tool had good construct validity. The Anxiety Depression dimension had good correlation with all the dimensions WHO-5 (rho > 0.4) indicating a good concurrent validity. Internal consistency and reliability of the tool were good (Cronbach''s alpha > 0.7). Cancer patients had a poor QOL (mean EQ5D index 0.37SD 0.4) with male patients, patients with Grade II cancer or referred for pain care services and those with living spouses reporting worse QOL.Conclusions:The Odia version of the EQ5D has good reliability and validity for the measurement of health status in cancer and outpatient department patients. Cancer patients in this part of the country have a poor QOL and may need a closer look at pain management and improved societal support systems.     

The European Portuguese version of the insomnia severity index

Insomnia is the most prevalent sleep complaint, but remains largely an unidentified public health issue. The Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) is a brief self‐report questionnaire to assess insomnia, long‐established both in clinical and research settings. The present study aimed to analyse the reliability, validity, and accuracy of the ISI European Portuguese version. After the translation protocol, 1,274 participants (65.54% female), with a mean (SD, range) age of 37.52 (16.82, 18–95) years, completed the ISI. This sample included 250 patients with insomnia from a Sleep Medicine Centre, presenting a diagnosis of insomnia disorder (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition; International Classification of Sleep Disorders, Third Edition), and 1,024 individuals from the community. A group of 30 patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) was also recruited. Cronbach’s α was 0.88 (internal consistency), and corrected item‐total correlations ranged from 0.56 to 0.83. An exploratory factor analysis (oblique rotation) revealed a two‐factor solution for both clinical and community samples. The ISI total score significantly differentiated insomnia disorder, no insomnia, and OSA subgroups with a large effect size (η ² = 0.42). The correlation between ISI and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index supported concurrent validity (0.82), and discriminant validity was confirmed by a moderate correlation between ISI and Beck Depression Inventory Second Edition (0.32). The area under the curve was 0.88, and the optimal cut‐off to detect clinical insomnia was 14 (82.1% sensitivity, 79.5% specificity). In conclusion, the Portuguese version of the ISI is a reliable and valid measure of insomnia in clinical and non‐clinical populations. Our present study also contributes to relevant data for the international literature regarding the cut‐off score of the scale for the detection of clinical insomnia.     

Development and Psychometric Properties of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment Instrument (WHOQOL-100) in Portugal

Background  At the beginning of the 1990s, the World Health Organization (WHO) developed a project in order to create a cross-cultural instrument of quality of life assessment: the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL). Purpose  This paper describes the development of the European Portuguese version of the WHOQOL-100, according to the methodology recommended by the WHO. Method  Special attention is given to the qualitative pilot study, which led to the development of the Portuguese Facet [Political P], and to the empirical pilot study and the psychometric studies, based on the application of the Portuguese version of the instrument to a sample of 315 subjects from the general population and 289 patients. The assessment protocol also included the Beck Depression Inventory and the Brief Symptom Inventory. Results  The Portuguese version of WHOQOL-100 showed acceptable internal consistency (α range 0.84–0.94) and test–retest reliability in all domains (r range 0.67–0.86). Discriminant validity was significant for all domains, except in Spirituality. Convergent validity with the Beck Depression Inventory and the Brief Symptom Inventory was satisfactory for most domains. Conclusion  The WHOQOL showed good psychometric characteristics, suggesting that the Portuguese version of WHOQOL is valid and reliable in the assessment of quality of life in Portugal.     

The validity and reliability of the Portuguese versions of three tools used to diagnose delirium in critically ill patients

OBJECTIVES:

The objectives of this study are to compare the sensitivity and specificity of three diagnostic tools for delirium (the Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist, the Confusion Assessment Method for Intensive Care Units and the Confusion Assessment Method for Intensive Care Units Flowsheet) in a mixed population of critically ill patients, and to validate the Brazilian Portuguese Confusion Assessment Method for Intensive Care Units.

METHODS:

The study was conducted in four intensive care units in Brazil. Patients were screened for delirium by a psychiatrist or neurologist using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Patients were subsequently screened by an intensivist using Portuguese translations of the three tools.

RESULTS:

One hundred and nineteen patients were evaluated and 38.6% were diagnosed with delirium by the reference rater. The Confusion Assessment Method for Intensive Care Units had a sensitivity of 72.5% and a specificity of 96.2%; the Confusion Assessment Method for Intensive Care Units Flowsheet had a sensitivity of 72.5% and a specificity of 96.2%; the Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist had a sensitivity of 96.0% and a specificity of 72.4%. There was strong agreement between the Confusion Assessment Method for Intensive Care Units and the Confusion Assessment Method for Intensive Care Units Flowsheet (kappa coefficient = 0.96).

CONCLUSION:

All three instruments are effective diagnostic tools in critically ill intensive care unit patients. In addition, the Brazilian Portuguese version of the Confusion Assessment Method for Intensive Care Units is a valid and reliable instrument for the assessment of delirium among critically ill patients.     

Assessment of psychometric properties,cross-cultural adaptation,and translation of the Turkish version of the ICU mobility scale

Background/aim The aim of the study was to carry out the cultural adaptation and translation of the ICU mobility scale (IMS) into Turkish and research the psychometric properties.Materials and methods This study was based on methodological design. The IMS was translated from English to the Turkish through a regularised translation process. Two physiotherapists assessed patients independently in the coronary intensive care unit. The measures such as construct validity, intra and interrater reliability, and internal consistency of the IMS Turkish version were assessed. Results A total of 70 intensive care patients were included in the study. The intrarater and interrater reliability of the IMS was excellent. The weighted Kappa value was 0.92 (0.87–0.96) for the intrarater reliability, and 0.87 (0.80–0.93) for the interrater reliability. There were significant correlations between the IMS and functional status score for the intensive care unit (r = 0.83), Perme intensive care unit mobility score (r = 0.84), Katz activities of daily living (r = 0.73), handgrip strength (r = 0.62), knee extension strength (r = 0.46), and age (r = –0.44).Conclusion This study suggests that the IMS Turkish version is a reliable and valid scale for assessing functional status and mobility level in ICU patients.     

Reliability and validity of the Turkish version of Post-COVID-19 Functional Status Scale

Background/aimThe post-COVID-19 Functional Status (PCFS) has recently been developed for functional outcomes of COVID-19 upon discharge and in long term. The purpose of this study was to investigate the reliability and validity properties of the Turkish version of the PCFS in Turkish post-COVID-19 patients with hospitalized and nonhospitalized during infection.Materials and methods One hundred participants with post-COVID-19 were included in this cross-sectional study. Test-retest reliability of the Turkish version of PCFS assessed by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Cronbach’s alpha was calculated for internal consistency. For construct validity, correlation coefficients between the Turkish version of PCFS developed by translation-back translation method and modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea scale (MMRC), London Chest Activities of Daily Living (LCADL) scale, Barthel Index (BI) were analyzed.Results For test-retest reliability analysis, ICC ranged between 0.734 and 0.880. The total ICC score was 0.821, indicating excellent reliability. The Cronbach’s alpha value of the PCFS test and retest scores were recorded as 0.821 indicating that the scale is quite reliable. The PCFS score was moderately correlated with the mMRC score (r = 0.534, p < 0.001) and weakly correlated with the LCADL self care (r = 0.311, p = 0.002), domestic (r = 0.277, p = 0.005), physical activity (r = 0.342, p < 0.001), leisure subscores (r = 0.434, p < 0.001) and total score (r = 0.399, p < 0.001).Conclusion The Turkish version of the PCFS scale is reliable scale that reflects activity limitation and functional status after COVID-19. The Turkish version of the PCFS will be a guide for rehabilitation professionals to understand functional limitation after COVID-19 and to direct interventions accordingly to functional status of the patients at discharge and in long term.     

Factor Structure, Reliability, and Validity of the Pain Catastrophizing Scale

The Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS; Sullivan et al., Psychol. Assess. 7, 524–532, 1995) has recently been developed to assess three components of catastrophizing: rumination, magnification, and helplessness. We conducted three studies to evaluate the factor structure, reliability, and validity of the PCS. In Study I, we conducted principal-components analysis with oblique rotation to replicate the three factors of the PCS. Gender differences on the original PCS subscales were also analyzed. In Study II, we conducted confirmatory factor analyses to evaluate the adequacy of fit of four alternative models. We also evaluated evidence for concurrent and discriminant validity. In Study III, we evaluated the ability of the PCS and subscales to differentiate between the responses of clinic (students seeking treatment) and nonclinic undergraduate samples. Also, in the clinic sample, we evaluated evidence of concurrent and predictive validity for the PCS. The internal consistency reliability indices for the total PCS and subscales were examined in all three studies. Limitations and future directions are discussed.     

个体和社会功能量表中文版在精神分裂症患者中的信效度

目的:考察个体和社会功能量表(Personal and Social Performance scale,PSP)中文版(PSP-CHN)在精神分裂症患者中的信度和效度.方法:收集165例符合DSM-IV-TR精神分裂症诊断标准的门诊或住院精神分裂症患者,10例患者用于研究者一致性培训,155例进行大体社会功能量表(Global Assessment of Functioning Scale,GAF))、阳性和阴性症状量表(Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale,PANSS)和PSP-CHN检查,分析PSP-CHN量表的内部一致性、PSP-CHN与GAF的一致性(效标效度)以及与患者疾病严重度的相关性(关联效度).66例患者在首次PSP-CHN评估后的5～7天内,由另一名研究者对患者进行第2次检查,评价PSP-CHN的重测信度.27例PANSS总分≥60分的患者,接受系统药物治疗8周,评估8周后PANSS及PSP-CHN评分改变,以及二者的相关性.结果:PSP-CHN量表的内部一致性Cronbach α系数为0.84,PSP-CHN总分的研究者之间一致性Kappa值为0.56(ICC=0.94),重测一致性ICC＝0.95.PSP-CHN总分与GAF有较好的相关性(ICC＝0.95),与PANSS总分及分量表分负相关(r=-0.79,-0.57,-0.63和-0.71,P＜0.01).治疗8周后,治疗有效患者(定义为PANSS与基线比较的减分率≥50%)PSP评分增加(平均增加21.2)明显高于部分有效的患者(定义为PANSS与基线比较的减分率<50%,PSP增加10.2分).结论:个体和社会功能量表中文版是评估精神分裂症急性期和稳定期患者个人和社会功能的一个简洁、易操作、较稳定的工具,适用于临床实践或研究中使用.     

Development of a Short Form Depression Screening Questionnaire for Korean Soldiers

BackgroundThe frequencies of South Korean soldiers'' depression and resulting suicide are increasing every year. Thus, this study aimed to develop and confirm the reliability and validity of a simple short form depression screening scale for soldiers.MethodsThis study was conducted as part of a 2013 research project named ‘The Epidemiological Study on the Prevalence of Depression in Military Service and a Search for High Risk Group Management.’ Clinical depression was diagnosed using the Korean version of the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview and suicide risk was assessed through the Korean version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Furthermore, the Center for Epidemiological Studies for Depression Scale (CES-D), the Stress Response Inventory, and the Barret Impulsiveness Scale were employed. Of the 20 CES-D items, three of the most correlated items with clinical diagnosis were derived to form the short form scale. Analyses for internal consistency, concurrent validity, and factor analysis were implemented for its validation. We performed a receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis using a clinical diagnosis of depression as a gold standard to calculate the area under the curve (AUC) value, cut-off score, and corresponding sensitivity and specificity to that cut-off score.ResultsAccording to the results of the correlation analysis, 7, 18, and 4 were selected to be on our scale. The three-item scale was reliable with a Cronbach''s alpha value of 0.720, and a factor was derived from the factor analysis. The ROC analysis showed a high discriminant validity, with an AUC value of 0.891. The sensitivity and specificity were 84.8% and 78.2%, and 71.7% and 91.6%, respectively, for each when the selected cut-off scores were 2 and 3, respectively. Depression screened through the scale when the cut-off score was 2 or 3 was significantly associated with suicidality, stress, and social support.ConclusionThe depression screening questionnaire for Korean soldiers developed through this study demonstrated high reliability and validity. Since it comprises only three items, it can be utilized easily and frequently. It is expected to be employed in a large-scale suicide prevention project targeting military soldiers in the future; it will be beneficial in selecting high-risk groups for depression.     

加州大学圣地亚哥分校基于任务的生活能力测验简版的临床信效度

目的:对用于测定精神分裂症患者生活能力的加州大学圣地亚哥分校基于任务的生活能力测验简版(UPSA-B)中文版临床信效度进行检验。方法:选取符合国际疾病和相关健康问题分类第十版(ICD-10)诊断标准的住院精神分裂症患者180名,接受UPSA-B、精神分裂症认知功能成套测验共识版(MCCB)、阳性和阴性症状量表(PANSS)、住院病人护士观察量表(NOSIE)以及住院精神分裂症生活质量量表(SQLS)评定;同时选取社区正常对照116名,接受UPSA-B和MCCB测验,用于计算平均完成时间、地板效应、天花板效应、区分效度、关联效度等。在上述患者和正常对照中各选取5名,由6名主试共同评定,用于计算评定者间信度。再随机选取30名患者,进行两次UPSA-B测量,间隔4周,用于计算重测信度和学习效应。结果:UPSA-B的平均完成时间为(11.6±2.8)分钟,各有1人次出现"地板效应"和"天花板效应"(零分和满分各为0.6%)。4周重测效应量(ES值)为0.07(P=0.626),UP-SA-B的重测信度为0.75(P0.001);评定者间信度(ICC值)为0.91;患者和正常对照的Cronbachα系数为0.83和0.72。患者的UPSA-B平均得分比正常对照低1～2个标准差(P0.001),ES值为0.76～0.93。判别分析显示,敏感度为67.2%,特异度为78.4%,符合率为71.6%。UPSA-B总分与M CCB总分,SQLS的动力和精力量表分及NOSIE的总积极因素、社会能力、社会兴趣和个人整洁分均呈正相关(r=0.18～0.64,P0.01或0.001);而与PANSS阴性量表分、NOSIE的迟缓分呈负相关(r=-0.36,-0.20;P0.01或0.001)。结论:UPSA-B作为一个基于任务的生活能力测验,可最大程度地反映被试的生活能力,应用于中国精神分裂症患者的临床信效度较好,值得进一步修订和完善。     

Translation and validation of a Turkish version of the Xerostomia Inventory XI in patients with primary Sjögren’s syndrome

Background/aim The aim of this study was to assess the reliability and validity of Turkish version of the Xerostomia Inventory XI in patients with primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS).Materials and methods A cross-sectional survey study design and analysis were used to assess the reliability and validity of the Xerostomia Inventory XI. A total of 69 patients with pSS (5 males, 64 females; mean age = 54.81 ± 8.77 years) were included. The Xerostomia Inventory XI (TR) was applied twice at an interval of 15 days. The test-retest reliability was assessed with the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and the internal consistency of multiitem subscales by calculating Cronbach’s alpha values. The correlations between ESSPRI, basal and stimulated salivary flow (BSF-SSF), Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) and Oral Health-Related Quality of Life-UK (OHRQoL-UK) Questionnaire were evaluated to determine the construct validity.Results The ICC value for test/retest reliability of the Xerostomia Inventory XI (TR) was 0.993. The internal consistency was 0.869. There were low to high correlations between Xerostomia Inventory XI (TR) and ESSPRI, BSF, SSF, OHIR-14 total and OHRQoL-UK total.Conclusion The Turkish version of the Xerostomia Inventory XI was found to be clinically valid and reliable to be used in clinical evaluations and rehabilitation interventions in patients with pSS.     

The Reliability of Portable Fixed Dynamometry During Hip and Knee Strength Assessments

Context:Insufficient lower extremity strength may be a risk factor for lower extremity injuries such as noncontact anterior cruciate ligament tears. Therefore, clinicians need reliable instruments to assess strength deficiencies.Objective:To assess the intrarater, interrater, intrasession, and intersession reliability of a portable fixed dynamometer in measuring the strength of the hip and knee musculature.Design:Crossover study.Setting:Sports medicine research laboratory.Results:The phase 1 intrasession intraclass correlation coefficients for sessions 1, 2, and 3 ranged from 0.88 to 0.99 (SEM  =  0.08–3.02 N), 0.85 to 0.99 (SEM  =  0.26–3.88 N), and 0.92 to 0.96 (SEM  =  0.52–2.76 N), respectively. Intraclass correlation coefficients ranged from 0.57 to 0.95 (SEM  =  1.72–13.15 N) for phase 1 intersession values, 0.70 to 0.94 (SEM  =  1.42–9.20 N) for phase 2 intrarater reliability values, and 0.69 to 0.88 (SEM  =  1.20–8.50 N) for phase 2 interrater values.Conclusions:The portable fixed dynamometer showed good to high intrasession and intersession reliability values for hip and knee strength. Intrarater and interrater reliability were fair to high, except for hip internal rotation, which showed poor reliability.     

The portuguese version of the personal health scale: a validation study in southern Brazil

The Personal Health Scale is a concise instrument for comprehensive culture-informed and self-rated assessment of general health status and well-being. It is composed of 10 questions that appraise different health dimensions collated from the international literature, including aspects ranging from somatic and psychological domains to social functioning and insight. PURPOSE: In this investigation, results of a study conducted in Southern Brazil to test and validate the Portuguese version of the Personal Health Scale (PHS-Pt) are presented. Method: This study analyzes data from a sample of 120 Brazilian volunteers (90 patients and 30 health care professionals). All patients completed the Portuguese version of the Personal Health Scale under a minimal guidance by trained examiners, who followed standardized instructional procedures. RESULTS: The internal consistency of the PHS-Pt attained a Cronbach's a of 0.75 among patients and of 0.69 among health care professionals. The test-retest reliability correlation coefficient yielded a score of 0.82. Furthermore, the PHS-Pt was able to detect a significant discriminating validity between the 2 evaluated samples (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: The original English version of the Personal Health Scale was successfully adapted to Portuguese as methodologically demonstrated herein. The PHS-Pt constitutes a reliable and trustworthy research instrument for evaluating health status in Brazil, since it is appropriately designed to distinguish different groups of volunteers regarding their health status.     

Cognitive deficit awareness in schizophrenia: absent,intact, or somewhere in-between?

Introduction. Cognitive impairment is a pervasive feature of schizophrenia, and is a major determinant of the functional disability that is characteristic of the disorder. However, research investigating whether patients with schizophrenia show a deficit awareness remains unclear. The present study aimed to replicate and extend previous research comparing subjective and objective measures of cognition.

Methods. Thirty patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder were administered the subjectively assessed Schizophrenia Cognitive Rating Scale (SCoRS) and the objective Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS), which each assess overall global functioning and four specific neurocognitive domains (i.e., Verbal Memory, Working Memory, Processing Speed, and Reasoning and Problem Solving). Because deficit awareness may influence the likelihood of patients engaging in treatments designed to improve cognitive functioning, patients' attitudes towards such therapies were also contrasted with these subjective and objective measures of cognitive functioning.

Results. Patients' subjective appraisals did not significantly correlate with the objective neuropsychological assessments for global functioning or any specific neurocognitive domains. However, patients accurately deduced that their memory domains were more impaired than the other domains, and there was a trend for patients to exaggerate their Reasoning and Problem Solving deficits. This suggests that patients show some level of deficit awareness, when overestimating “deficits” for domains that are not impaired. Finally subjective, but not objective, measures of cognitive functioning correlated significantly with willingness to participate in cognitive-enhancing therapies.

Conclusions. These results suggest that although patients' perceptions of their cognitive function are no substitute for objective neuropsychological test data, patients do possess a level of deficit awareness which may, in turn, influence willingness to participate in interventions such as cognitive rehabilitation.