Development of a Novel Scale to Assess Life Fulfilment as Part of the Further Refinement of a Quality-of-Life Model for Epilepsy

Summary: We have been involved in developing a health-related quality-of-life model for use as an outcome measure in epilepsy. As part of the further development of this model, we have developed a measure of life fulfilment. This scale is based on methods previously described by Krupinski in 1980. The value of Krupinski's approach is the opportunity for patients to weight the numerous aspects of their quality of life and assess the discrepancy between their actual and desired circumstances. The life fulfilment scale has been shown to be reliable (α= 0.7) and valid. The scale is currently being applied to several clinical studies in epilepsy. We believe that the scale provides a valuable contribution to our health-related quality-of-life model.     

A Brief Mental Health Outcomes Measure: Translation and Validation of the Czech Version of the Schwartz Outcomes Scale-10

The Schwartz Outcomes Scale-10 (SOS-10) is a 10-item scale developed to measure the effectiveness of psychiatric treatments. Using standard methodology, we translated the scale into Czech and examined the psychometric properties of the Czech version. 207 in-patients admitted to Prague Psychiatric Center were included in the study. All patients completed the SOS at admission and discharge. The SOS-10 scale was also administered to 170 persons from the general population. Reliability, validity and sensitivity to treatment change of the Czech SOS-10 were analyzed. The Cronbach’s α coefficient was 0.92. The item-total correlation coefficients varied from 0.56 to 0.82. The SOS-10 correlated well with condition-specific measures including depression (BDI) and anxiety (BAI) and a global self-rated symptom severity scale (CGI). The SOS-10 also had significant correlations with the Health, Basic needs, Relationship, and Leisure time domains of the Czech version of the Subjective Quality of Life Analysis (SQUALA-CZ). The scale discriminated well between patients and controls, with patients scoring significantly lower on all SOS items. The patient sample’s admission and discharge scores were significantly different, indicating that the scale is sensitive to treatment changes. We concluded that the Czech SOS-10 is valid with reliability and factor structure similar to the American language version.     

The translation,cultural adaptation and psychometric evaluation of the Manchester Foot Pain and Disability Index in Persian-speaking Iranians with foot disorder

BackgroundFoot pain has a significantly detrimental effect on mobility, function and health status. Researchers have developed a number of measurement tools to assess foot health and its impact on the quality of life. This study was conducted to translate the original English Manchester Foot Pain and Disability Index (MFPDI) into Persian and to examine the psychometric properties of the Persian version.MethodsA total of 206 patients with a range of foot disorders filled out the Persian version of the MFPDI and the Short-Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36). The Persian version of the MFPDI was re-completed by the participants at an interval of five to seven days. The analyses performed included internal consistency, test-retest reliability, construct validity, and floor and ceiling effect analysis.ResultsThe Persian MFPDI had a good internal consistency (Cronbach’s α ≥ 0.70) and test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.84). The construct validity of the Persian MFPDI was demonstrated to be acceptable as a result of its significantly strong negative correlations with the SF-36.ConclusionThe results of this study showed that the Persian version of the MFPDI is a valid and reliable measure to assess foot-related disability.     

中国小学生基本数学能力测试量表常模的建立

目的建立适合我国小学生基本数学能力测试量表的评定常模,以满足心理测量的需要.方法参照2000年第5次全国人口普查资料,采用多阶段分层整群抽样,分别在城区与农村抽取样本7 377例和7 316例.结果常模样本构成比例与人口资料基本吻合,样本在各年级及男女性别分布基本均衡,具有较好的代表性;城乡儿童的数学能力测试得分在大部分分测试中差异存在显著性,而大部分分测试得分的性别差异无显著性,因此分别建立城区和农村2套常模.结论小学生基本数学能力测试量表的评定常模基本达到了设计目的和预期水平.     

湖北民族学院土家族医学生心理健康状况

目的研究分析土家族医学生心理健康状况,为开展少数民族大学生心理健康教育提供依据.方法采用症状自评量表(SCL-90)对湖北民族学院医学院1997～1999级医学生中的土家族学生509人的心理健康状况进行测评,并进行比较分析.结果被试中至少有1项SCL-90因子分≥3分的学生占21.41%,男、女及不同年级学生间比较,差异均无显著性.总体上,土家族医学生的心理健康水平优于国内其他地区大学生.结论土家族医学生心理问题不容忽视,且女生的心理卫生问题相对较为突出,应根据土家族人的心理特性对土家族医学生进行心理卫生教育.     

慢性阻塞性肺病患者的心理症状分析

目的:研究慢性阻塞性肺病(COPD)患者在病情不同阶段的心理症状变化及与躯体症状变化的关系。方法:使用症状自评量表(SCL-90)对29例COPD患者进行2次测试,同时记录血氧饱和度(SaO2)。结果:心理症状较重组COPD患者(Ⅰ组)12例,心理症状较轻组COPD患者(Ⅱ组)17例。两组在两个不同阶段的心理症状无变化(P>0.5),血氧饱和度(SaO2)在两个不同阶段存在显著差异(P<0.01)。结论:一部分COPD患者可以出现较为严重的精神心理症状,主要表现为抑郁、焦虑情绪、躯体化症状及强迫症状,它的发生与病情的严重程度相关。     

Editor's Introduction to This Special Issue on Syringe Access and Secondary Syringe Exchange: International Perspectives and Future Directions

Implementation of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) presents welfare recipients with time-limited benefits and work requirements. However, it is estimated that over 140,000 welfare recipients meet the DSM-IV criteria for “drug dependence”. In this study, samples of chronic drug using and non-drug using female TANF recipients were compared with regard to: current employment, psychological functioning, self-perceived employment skills, barriers to employment, and need for help in seeking employment. It was found that non-drug using study participants were significantly more likely to be employed and reported significantly higher self-perceived work skills than users. Chronic users reported significantly greater barriers to seeking employment. [Translations are provided in the International Abstracts Section of this issue.]     

The WCST-64: A Standardized Short-Form of the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test

The Wisconsin Cart Sorting Test (WCST) is a well-established measure of executive function. Practical and financial constraints have increased the need for abbreviated neuropsychological procedures. A number of abbreviated versions of the WCST have been introduced and cogent arguments can be made for one over another in certain situations. However, the single deck, 64-card WCST (WCST-64) is the most logical and practical short form. Psychological Assessment Resources (PAR) has recently published a new manual with comprehensive norms for the WCST-64. This paper reviews the new product, discusses the comparability of the WCST-64 and the standard version, and suggests directions for future research.     

Minding Your “ps and qs” When Using Forced-Choice Recognition Tests

Denney (1996), and Frederick, Carter, and Powel (1995) described a forced-choice recognition test (FCRT) to evaluate suspicious complaints of remote memory loss. Although the two-alternative forced-choice trials in symptom validity testing have equal prior probabilities of correct answers (p) and incorrect answers (q), ps and qs might vary from 0.5 on individual trials of FCRTs. FCRTs nonetheless remain conservative procedures for evaluating suspicious memory loss, as long as the overall p approximates 0.5. In computer simulations, distributions in which p q 0.5 resulted in more conservative decision making than distributions in which p = q = 0.5. The authors demonstrate the ease in constructing FCRTs with overall p = 0.5 and discuss the proper application of FCRT findings in a clinical evaluation.