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Han Y, Zhang J, Jiang Z, Shi D. Is the Area Under Curve Appropriate for Evaluating the Fit of Psychometric Models? EDUCATIONAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL MEASUREMENT 2023; 83:586-608. [PMID: 37187692 PMCID: PMC10177322 DOI: 10.1177/00131644221098182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
In the literature of modern psychometric modeling, mostly related to item response theory (IRT), the fit of model is evaluated through known indices, such as χ2, M2, and root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) for absolute assessments as well as Akaike information criterion (AIC), consistent AIC (CAIC), and Bayesian information criterion (BIC) for relative comparisons. Recent developments show a merging trend of psychometric and machine learnings, yet there remains a gap in the model fit evaluation, specifically the use of the area under curve (AUC). This study focuses on the behaviors of AUC in fitting IRT models. Rounds of simulations were conducted to investigate AUC's appropriateness (e.g., power and Type I error rate) under various conditions. The results show that AUC possessed certain advantages under certain conditions such as high-dimensional structure with two-parameter logistic (2PL) and some three-parameter logistic (3PL) models, while disadvantages were also obvious when the true model is unidimensional. It cautions researchers about the dangers of using AUC solely in evaluating psychometric models.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Dexin Shi
- University of South Carolina, Columbia,
USA
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2
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Mental pain has been proposed as a global person-centered outcome measure. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to test an essential requisite of such a measure, namely that mental pain incorporates independent contributions from a range of discrete but disparate outcome measures. METHODS Two hundred migraine patients were assessed concerning migraine disability, psychosomatic syndromes, mental pain, depression, anxiety, and psychosocial dimensions. General linear models were tested to verify which measures would individually make unique contributions to overall mental pain. RESULTS The final model, accounting for 44% of variance, identified that higher mental pain was associated with more severe depressive symptoms, higher migraine disability, lower well-being, and poorer quality of life. CONCLUSION In this sample, mental pain was shown to behave as expected of a global outcome measure, since multiple measures of symptomatology and quality of life showed modest but significant bivariate correlations with mental pain and some of these measures individually made unique contributions to overall mental pain.
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Guidi J, Fava GA. The Clinical Science of Euthymia: A Conceptual Map. PSYCHOTHERAPY AND PSYCHOSOMATICS 2022; 91:156-167. [PMID: 35421862 DOI: 10.1159/000524279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Euthymia is a trans-diagnostic construct characterized by lack of mood disturbances; presence of positive affect; balance of psychological well-being dimensions, flexibility, consistency, and resistance to stress. The aim of this critical review is to draw a conceptual map of euthymia. Relationships with other constructs, continuum between euthymia and dysthymia with discomfort as an intermediate area, associations with lifestyle, clinimetric assessment, role of psychotherapeutic interventions, establishment of therapeutic targets, and neurobiological mechanisms are discussed. The model is based on the bipolar nature of well-being dimensions. Euthymia means using allostasis optimally and maintaining a healthy balance that promotes positive aspects of brain and body health through health-promoting behaviors. It may provide a framework for a renewed definition of recovery, for measuring treatment outcome and for targeting interventions, including the sequential administration of therapeutic components. Clinical assessment requires a clinimetric approach encompassing a broad range of aspects, such as allostatic load and lifestyle behaviors, all interacting with each other and contributing to the euthymia/dysthymia balance. Clinimetric indices for assessing euthymia (the Clinical Interview for Euthymia and the Euthymia Scale) and related constructs (the Clinical Interview for Dysthymia and the Semi-Structured Interview for the Diagnostic Criteria for Psychosomatic Research) are presented here. Well-Being Therapy, a psychotherapeutic strategy specifically aimed at pursuing euthymia, relies on self-observation of well-being episodes using a structured diary as a distinct therapeutic ingredient. The clinical science of euthymia may unravel innovative approaches to assessment and treatment of psychiatric and medical disorders, according to a unitary conceptual framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny Guidi
- Department of Psychology "Renzo Canestrari", University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Giovanni A Fava
- Department of Psychiatry, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, USA
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4
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Cui N, Bao Y, Liu X, Liu K, Chen W. Validation of a Chinese version of the Tolerance for Mental Pain Scale-10 with Chinese college students. SOCIAL BEHAVIOR AND PERSONALITY 2021. [DOI: 10.2224/sbp.10891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
We built and validated a Chinese version of the Tolerance for Mental Pain Scale-10 (TMPS-10). Participants were 840 college students in Jilin, China. The TMPS-10 consists of two dimensions: managing the pain and enduring the pain. In our study Cronbach's alphas were .80 and .83, respectively,
and test–retest reliability coefficients were .78 and .72, respectively, for these two dimensions. Exploratory factor analysis results demonstrate that the two dimensions accounted for 61.58% of the total variance. Confirmatory factor analysis results show that the two-factor model fit
the sample data well. As the Chinese version of the TMPS-10 meets the requirements for a psychometric tool, it can be used to evaluate Chinese college students' tolerance of psychological pain.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Pain has been qualified under four categories: nociception, perception of pain, suffering, and pain behaviors. Most of the literature on migraine has devoted attention to the first two. The aim of the present cohort study was to investigate patients with migraine enrolled at a tertiary care unit to study suffering and mental pain and identify potential risk factors for migraine. METHODS An observational cross-sectional study was carried out on patients with chronic migraine (CM) and episodic migraine (EM), and healthy subjects (HS). The three groups were matched for age and sex. A comprehensive assessment of migraine disability, pain, psychiatric disorders, psychosomatic syndromes, depressive and anxious symptoms, euthymia, psychosocial variables, mental pain, and pain-proneness (PP) was performed. RESULTS Three hundred subjects were enrolled (100 CM, 100 EM, and 100 HS). Based on the multiple regression analyses, those presenting PP (social impairment: odds ratio [OR] = 3.59, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.14-11.29; depressive symptoms: OR = 3.82, 95% CI = 1.74-8.41) were more likely to be CM than HS. Those with higher levels of PP (social impairment: OR = 4.04, 95% CI = 1.60-10.22; depressive symptoms: OR = 2.02, 95% CI = 1.26-3.24) were more likely to be EM than HS. Those presenting higher levels of mental pain were more likely to be CM than EM (OR = 1.45, 95% CI = 1.02-2.07). CONCLUSION Migraine is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with psychosocial manifestations that might contribute to the level of suffering of the individuals. Mental pain resulted to be the variable that most differentiated patients with CM from EM.
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Cosci F. Clinimetric Perspectives in Clinical Psychology and Psychiatry. PSYCHOTHERAPY AND PSYCHOSOMATICS 2021; 90:217-221. [PMID: 34052804 DOI: 10.1159/000517028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Fiammetta Cosci
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Clinical Pharmacopsychology Lab, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
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7
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Mental Pain in Eating Disorders: An Exploratory Controlled Study. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10163584. [PMID: 34441880 PMCID: PMC8397208 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10163584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Revised: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Mental pain (MP) is a transdiagnostic feature characterized by depression, suicidal ideation, emotion dysregulation, and associated with worse levels of distress. The study explores the presence and the discriminating role of MP in EDs in detecting patients with higher depressive and ED-related symptoms. Seventy-one ED patients and 90 matched controls completed a Clinical Assessment Scale for MP (CASMP) and the Mental Pain Questionnaire (MPQ). ED patients also completed the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), Clinical Interview for Depression (CID-20), and Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-40). ED patients exhibited significantly greater severity and higher number of cases of MP than controls. Moreover, MP resulted the most important cluster predictor followed by BDI-II, CID-20, and EAT-40 in discriminating between patients with different ED and depression severity in a two-step cluster analysis encompassing 87.3% (n = 62) of the total ED sample. Significant positive associations have been found between MP and bulimic symptoms, cognitive and somatic-affective depressive symptoms, suicidal tendencies, and anxiety-related symptoms. In particular, those presenting MP reported significantly higher levels of depressive and anxiety-related symptoms than those without. MP represents a clinical aspect that can help to detect more severe cases of EDs and to better understand the complex interplay between ED and mood symptomatology.
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Sensky T. Mental Pain and Suffering: The "Universal Currencies" of the Illness Experience? PSYCHOTHERAPY AND PSYCHOSOMATICS 2021; 89:337-344. [PMID: 32781446 DOI: 10.1159/000509587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tom Sensky
- Department of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom,
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Cosci F, Chouinard G. Acute and Persistent Withdrawal Syndromes Following Discontinuation of Psychotropic Medications. PSYCHOTHERAPY AND PSYCHOSOMATICS 2021; 89:283-306. [PMID: 32259826 DOI: 10.1159/000506868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2019] [Accepted: 02/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Studies on psychotropic medications decrease, discontinuation, or switch have uncovered withdrawal syndromes. The present overview aimed at analyzing the literature to illustrate withdrawal after decrease, discontinuation, or switch of psychotropic medications based on the drug class (i.e., benzodiazepines, nonbenzodiazepine benzodiazepine receptor agonists, antidepressants, ketamine, antipsychotics, lithium, mood stabilizers) according to the diagnostic criteria of Chouinard and Chouinard [Psychother Psychosom. 2015;84(2):63-71], which encompass new withdrawal symptoms, rebound symptoms, and persistent post-withdrawal disorders. All these drugs may induce withdrawal syndromes and rebound upon discontinuation, even with slow tapering. However, only selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, serotonin noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors, and antipsychotics were consistently also associated with persistent post-withdrawal disorders and potential high severity of symptoms, including alterations of clinical course, whereas the distress associated with benzodiazepines discontinuation appears to be short-lived. As a result, the common belief that benzodiazepines should be substituted by medications that cause less dependence such as antidepressants and antipsychotics runs counter the available literature. Ketamine, and probably its derivatives, may be classified as at high risk for dependence and addiction. Because of the lag phase that has taken place between the introduction of a drug into the market and the description of withdrawal symptoms, caution is needed with the use of newer antidepressants and antipsychotics. Within medication classes, alprazolam, lorazepam, triazolam, paroxetine, venlafaxine, fluphenazine, perphenazine, clozapine, and quetiapine are more likely to induce withdrawal. The likelihood of withdrawal manifestations that may be severe and persistent should thus be taken into account in clinical practice and also in children and adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiammetta Cosci
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy, .,Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands,
| | - Guy Chouinard
- Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology Program, McGill University and Mental Health Institute of Montreal Fernand Seguin Research Centre, University of Montreal, Montreal, Québec, Canada
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10
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Huang Q, Luo L, Xia BQ, Zhang DJ, Dong CD, Tan JW, Fu LZ, Tang F, Zhang XL, Lao BN, Xu YM, Chen HF, Liu XS, Wu YF. Refinement and Evaluation of a Chinese and Western Medication Adherence Scale for Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease: Item Response Theory Analyses. Patient Prefer Adherence 2020; 14:2243-2252. [PMID: 33244222 PMCID: PMC7682603 DOI: 10.2147/ppa.s269255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE This study aimed to simplify the version-1 Chinese and Western medication adherence scale for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) to a version-2 scale using item response theory (IRT) analyses, and to further evaluate the performance of the version-2 scale. MATERIALS AND METHODS Firstly, we refined the version-1 scale using IRT analyses to examine the discrimination parameter (a), difficulty parameter (b) and maximum information function peak (Imax). The final scale refinement from version-1 to version-2 scale was also decided upon clinical considerations. Secondly, we analyzed the reliability and validity of version-2 scale using classical test theory (CTT), as well as difficulty, discrimination and Imax of version-1 and version-2 scale using IRT in order to conduct scale evaluation. RESULTS For scale refinement, the 26-item version-1 scale was reduced to a 15-item version-2 scale after IRT analyses. For scale evaluation using CTT, internal consistency reliability (total Cronbach α = 0.842) and test-rest reliability (r = 0.909) of version-2 scale were desirable. Content validity indicated 3 components of knowledge, belief and behaviors. We found meritorious construct validity with 3 detected components as the same construct of medication knowledge (items 1-9), medication behavior (items 13-15), and medication belief (items 10-12) based upon exploratory factor analysis. The correlation between the version-2 scale and Morisky, Green and Levine scale (MGL scale) was weak (Pearson coefficient = 0.349). For scale evaluation with IRT, the findings showed enhanced discrimination and decreased difficulty of most retained items (items 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15), decreased Imax of items 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 11, 14, as well as increased Imax of items 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15 in the version-2 scale than in the version-1 scale. CONCLUSION The original Chinese and Western medication adherence scale was refined to a 15-item version-2 scale after IRT analyses. The scale evaluation using CTT and IRT showed the version-2 scale had the desirable reliability, validity, discrimination, difficulty, and information providedoverall. Therefore, the version-2 scale is clinically feasible to assess the medication adherence of CKD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiong Huang
- The Second Clinical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China
- Blood Purification Center, Heyuan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Heyuan, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China
| | - Li Luo
- The Second Clinical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China
| | - Bing-qing Xia
- The Second Clinical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ding-Jun Zhang
- The Second Clinical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China
| | - Chen-di Dong
- The Second Clinical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jiao-wang Tan
- The Second Clinical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China
- Renal Division, Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China
| | - Li-zhe Fu
- Chronic Disease Management Outpatient Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine (Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine), Guangzhou, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China
| | - Fang Tang
- Chronic Disease Management Outpatient Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine (Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine), Guangzhou, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xian-long Zhang
- The Second Clinical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China
| | - Bei-ni Lao
- The Second Clinical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yan-min Xu
- The Second Clinical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hui-fen Chen
- The Second Clinical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xu-sheng Liu
- Renal Division, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine (Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine), Guangzhou, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yi-fan Wu
- Renal Division, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine (Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine), Guangzhou, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China
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11
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Landi G, Furlani A, Boccolini G, Mikulincer M, Grandi S, Tossani E. Tolerance for Mental Pain Scale (TMPS): Italian validation and evaluation of its protective role in depression and suicidal ideation. Psychiatry Res 2020; 291:113263. [PMID: 32623264 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2020] [Revised: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 06/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Mental pain and tolerance for mental pain have been receiving international recognition as transdiagnostic constructs related to many psychiatric conditions as well as increased probability of suicide. The purpose of this study was to adapt and validate the Tolerance for Mental Pain Scale (TMPS) in Italian and to examine its protective role in depression and suicidal ideation. To this aim, psychometric proprieties of the instrument were explored as well as their association with depression and suicidal ideation on an Italian adult community sample (N = 204). Participants filled out the TMPS together with scales tapping intensity of mental pain, depression and other clinically relevant variables. Compared to the original version, the TMPS-10 demonstrated better psychometric properties and was validated in Italian. The two-factor structure of the Italian TMPS-10 (Managing the Pain, Enduring the Pain) was replicated. The instrument showed adequate construct validity and gender measurement invariance. Furthermore, regression analyses evinced a significant protective role of tolerance for mental pain in depressive symptomatology and suicidal ideation. The Italian TMPS-10 is a valid and reliable measure to assess tolerance for mental pain and seems to be a promising instrument to identify those at risk for depressive psychopathology and suicide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Landi
- Laboratory of Psychosomatics and Clinimetrics, Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 5, 40127 Bologna, Italy.
| | - Annalisa Furlani
- Laboratory of Psychosomatics and Clinimetrics, Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 5, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - Giada Boccolini
- Laboratory of Psychosomatics and Clinimetrics, Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 5, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - Mario Mikulincer
- Baruch Ivcher School of Psychology, Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya, P. O. Box 167, 46150 Herzliya, Israel
| | - Silvana Grandi
- Laboratory of Psychosomatics and Clinimetrics, Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 5, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - Eliana Tossani
- Laboratory of Psychosomatics and Clinimetrics, Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 5, 40127 Bologna, Italy
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12
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Guidi J, Piolanti A, Berrocal C, Gostoli S, Carrozzino D. Incremental Validity Of The Diagnostic Criteria For Psychosomatic Research - Revised (DCPR-R) To Clinical Assessment In Primary Care. Psychiatry Res 2020; 291:113233. [PMID: 32563748 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2020] [Revised: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 06/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Psychosocial problems are highly prevalent among primary care (PC) patients, but they often remain undetected using traditional classification systems. The aim of the present study was to test the incremental validity of the revised version of the Diagnostic Criteria for Psychosomatic Research (DCPR-R), in addition to standard psychiatric assessment based on DSM-5, with regard to the prediction of psychosocial functioning of PC patients. Two-hundred PC patients were consecutively recruited. A comprehensive assessment was performed using two clinical interviews and three self-rating questionnaires (the PsychoSocial Index [PSI], the Short-Form Health Survey [SF-12] and the Illness Attitude Scales [IAS]) for the assessment of psychopathology and psychosocial functioning. Adding the DCPR-R to DSM-5, the amount of explained variance significantly increased by 9% to 16% in the PSI subscales, by 13% in the SF-12 mental component summary, and by 2% to 6% in the IAS scales. The joint use of DCPR-R and DSM-5 thus significantly increased the prediction of psychosocial functioning of primary care patients. These findings further support the use of the DCPR-R in PC settings, particularly in patients who do not satisfy DSM-5 criteria and yet present with high psychological distress, maladaptive illness behavior, impaired psychological well-being and quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny Guidi
- Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
| | | | - Carmen Berrocal
- Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Care Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Sara Gostoli
- Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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13
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Fava GA, Tomba E, Brakemeier EL, Carrozzino D, Cosci F, Eöry A, Leonardi T, Schamong I, Guidi J. Mental Pain as a Transdiagnostic Patient-Reported Outcome Measure. PSYCHOTHERAPY AND PSYCHOSOMATICS 2020; 88:341-349. [PMID: 31665739 DOI: 10.1159/000504024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2019] [Accepted: 10/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) refer to any report coming directly from patients about how they function or feel in relation to a health condition or its therapy. PROs have been applied in medicine for the assessment of the impact of clinical phenomena. Self-report scales and procedures for assessing physical pain in adults have been developed and used in clinical trials. However, insufficient attention has been dedicated to the assessment of mental pain. The aim of this paper is to outline the implications that assessment of mental pain may entail in psychiatry and medicine, with particular reference to a clinimetric index. A simple 10-item self-rating questionnaire, the Mental Pain Questionnaire (MPQ), encompasses the specific clinical features of mental pain and shows good clinimetric properties (i.e., sensitivity, discriminant and incremental validity). The preliminary data suggest that the MPQ may qualify as a PRO measure to be included in clinical trials. Assessment of mental pain may have important clinical implications in intervention research, both in psychopharmacology and psychotherapy. The transdiagnostic features of mental pain are supported by its association with a number of psychiatric disorders, such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders, as well as borderline personality disorder. Further, addressing mental pain may be an important pathway to prevent and diminish the opioid epidemic. The data summarized here indicate that mental pain can be incorporated into current psychiatric assessment and included as a PRO measure in treatment outcome studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni A Fava
- Department of Psychiatry, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Elena Tomba
- Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Eva-Lotta Brakemeier
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Universitat Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.,Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy and Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior (CMBB), Phillips Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Danilo Carrozzino
- Department of Psychological, Health and Territorial Sciences, University G. d'Annunzio of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Fiammetta Cosci
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Ajándék Eöry
- Department of Family Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Tommaso Leonardi
- Clinical Trials Network and Institute (CTNI), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Isabel Schamong
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy and Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior (CMBB), Phillips Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Jenny Guidi
- Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy,
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14
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Merkin AG, Medvedev ON, Sachdev PS, Tippett L, Krishnamurthi R, Mahon S, Kasabov N, Parmar P, Crawford J, Doborjeh ZG, Doborjeh MG, Kang K, Kochan NA, Bahrami H, Brodaty H, Feigin VL. New avenue for the geriatric depression scale: Rasch transformation enhances reliability of assessment. J Affect Disord 2020; 264:7-14. [PMID: 31846809 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2019.11.100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2019] [Revised: 10/23/2019] [Accepted: 11/21/2019] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Depression is a common problem in older adults. The 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) is a widely used psychometric tool for measuring depression in the elderly, but its psychometric properties have not been yet rigorously investigated. The aim was to evaluate psychometric properties of the GDS-15 and improve precision of the instrument by applying Rasch analysis and deriving conversion tables for transformation of raw scores into interval level data. METHODS The data was extracted from the prospective cohort Sydney Memory and Ageing Study of initially not demented individuals aged 70 years and older. The GDS-15 items scores of 212 participants (47.2% males) were analysed using the dichotomous Rasch model. RESULTS Initially poor reliability of the GDS-15, Person Separation Index (PSI) = 0.68, was improved by combining locally dependent items into seven super-items. These modifications improved reliability of the GDS-15 (PSI = 0.78) and resulted in the best Rasch model fit (χ2(28)=37.72, p = =0.104), strict unidimensionality and scale invariance across personal factors such as gender, diagnostic and language background. LIMITATIONS Presence of participants with cognitive impairment may be a potential limitation. CONCLUSIONS Reliability and psychometric characteristics of the GDS-15 were improved by minor modifications and now satisfy expectations of the unidimensional Rasch model. By using Rasch transformation tables published here psychiatrists, psychologists and researchers can transform GDS raw scores into interval-level data, which improves reliability of the GDS-15 without the need to modify its original response format. These findings increase accuracy of clinical psychometric assessments, leading to more precise diagnosis of depression in the elderly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander G Merkin
- Faculty of Health & Environmental Sciences, National Institute for Stroke and Applied Neurosciences, Auckland University of Technology, Private Bag 92006, Auckland 1142, New Zealand.
| | - Oleg N Medvedev
- University of Waikato, School of Psychology, Hamilton, New Zealand
| | - Perminder S Sachdev
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA), School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | | | - Rita Krishnamurthi
- Faculty of Health & Environmental Sciences, National Institute for Stroke and Applied Neurosciences, Auckland University of Technology, Private Bag 92006, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - Susan Mahon
- Faculty of Health & Environmental Sciences, National Institute for Stroke and Applied Neurosciences, Auckland University of Technology, Private Bag 92006, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - Nikola Kasabov
- Faculty of Health & Environmental Sciences, National Institute for Stroke and Applied Neurosciences, Auckland University of Technology, Private Bag 92006, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - Priya Parmar
- Faculty of Health & Environmental Sciences, National Institute for Stroke and Applied Neurosciences, Auckland University of Technology, Private Bag 92006, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - John Crawford
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA), School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Zohreh G Doborjeh
- Faculty of Health & Environmental Sciences, National Institute for Stroke and Applied Neurosciences, Auckland University of Technology, Private Bag 92006, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - Maryam G Doborjeh
- Faculty of Health & Environmental Sciences, National Institute for Stroke and Applied Neurosciences, Auckland University of Technology, Private Bag 92006, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - Kristan Kang
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA), School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Nicole A Kochan
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA), School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Helena Bahrami
- Faculty of Health & Environmental Sciences, National Institute for Stroke and Applied Neurosciences, Auckland University of Technology, Private Bag 92006, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - Henry Brodaty
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA), School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Valery L Feigin
- Faculty of Health & Environmental Sciences, National Institute for Stroke and Applied Neurosciences, Auckland University of Technology, Private Bag 92006, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
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15
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Guidi J, Piolanti A, Gostoli S, Schamong I, Brakemeier EL. Mental Pain and Euthymia as Transdiagnostic Clinimetric Indices in Primary Care. PSYCHOTHERAPY AND PSYCHOSOMATICS 2019; 88:252-253. [PMID: 31315121 DOI: 10.1159/000501622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2019] [Accepted: 06/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jenny Guidi
- Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy,
| | | | - Sara Gostoli
- Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Isabel Schamong
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy and Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior (CMBB), Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Eva-Lotta Brakemeier
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy and Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior (CMBB), Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
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16
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Schwall P, Meesters C, Hardt J. Estimating person parameters via item response model and simple sum score in small samples with few polytomous items: A simulation study. Stat Med 2019; 38:4040-4050. [PMID: 31236972 DOI: 10.1002/sim.8280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2018] [Revised: 04/23/2019] [Accepted: 05/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Item Response Theory (IRT) is becoming increasingly popular for item analysis. Theoretical considerations and simulation studies suggest that parameter estimates will become precise only by utilizing many items in large samples. METHOD A simulation study focusing on a single scale was performed on data with (a) n = 40, 60, 80, 120, 200, 300, 500, and 900 cases utilizing (b) 4, 8, 16, or 32 items. The items were (c) symmetrically distributed vs. skew (skewness 0, 1, and 2). Item loadings were (d) homogeneous vs. heterogeneous. Item loadings were (e) low vs. high. Half of the items had (f) a correlated error or not. The number of answering categories (g) was four vs. five. A total of 10% of each item had missing values. The ability-estimates from the IRT model and the simple sum score served as criteria for evaluating the results. RESULTS The ability-estimate from the IRT model outperformed the sum score when there were many items, skewed distributed items, and the item loadings were heterogeneous and high. The sum score outperformed the ability-estimate when there were few items, nonskewed items, and homogeneous and low item loadings. However, convergence rates were partly low in small samples. Correlated errors affected, both negatively, the ability-estimate and the sum score. CONCLUSION With skew item distributions and heterogeneous item loadings, utilizing an IRT model is recommended. However, with few items, many cases are required, conversely, with few cases many items. With few items and few cases, the sum score performs better.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Schwall
- Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Christian Meesters
- Zentrum für Datenverarbeitung (ZDV), High Performance Computing Group, Mainz, Germany
| | - Jochen Hardt
- Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany
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