The psychometric validity of the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) in recent onset schizophrenia spectrum disorders

Earlier recognition and accurate assessment of depressive symptoms is important to improving outcomes in individuals with recent-onset schizophrenia spectrum disorders (termed SSD hereafter)-regardless of whether positive psychotic symptoms are present or have resolved. The Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) is frequently used to assess depressive symptoms in SSD, but no study has examined the psychometric validity of MADRS scores in individuals exclusively with SSD and sub-grouped by those with and without positive psychotic symptoms. This study involved baseline data from the Psychosis Recent Onset GRoningen Survey (PROGR-S). Measures used were: MADRS, depressive and negative subscales of Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS_D, PANSS_N), and Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (SCAN). The MADRS total score had sufficient concurrent validity with PANSS_D (evidence by ρ≥0.70), and insufficient divergent validity with PANSS_N (evidenced by ρ ≥0.30), in the full cohort and when sub-grouped by positive psychotic symptoms. In symptom networks, divergent communities comprising either MADRS or PANSS_N items were found, except the MADRS item inability to feel overlapped with PANSS_N items. The most divergent MADRS items were sadness, pessimism, and suicidal thoughts. The MADRS total score had sufficient predictive validity for determining caseness for MDD based on SCAN, but the optimal cut-off differed in those with and without positive psychotic symptoms (MADRS≥18 versus MADRS≥11). The MADRS has sufficient validity for assessing depressive symptoms in SSD. Since scores might depend upon symptoms of SSD, MADRS≥11 and the presence of sadness, pessimism, or suicidal ideation might be the best indicator of MDD in SSD.

Scale of emotional development-short: Reliability and validity in two samples of children with an intellectual disability

BACKGROUND

Intellectual disability (ID) is often accompanied by more significant delays in emotional development than in cognitive development. Diagnostic assessment can provide insight into emotional functioning. However, few standardized assessment instruments are available.

AIMS

Examine the reliability and validity of the Scale of Emotional Development-Short (SED-S) in children with ID.

METHODS AND PROCEDURES

This methodological instrument validation study was conducted in the Netherlands and Switzerland with children (N = 118) older than 3 and younger than 18 years with ID ranging from profound to mild. Measures included: demographic and medical data, SED-S, and the Vineland. Coherence and reliability of the SED-S were determined using Cronbach's alpha, and validity was examined using Goodman and Kruskal's γ, Kruskal-Wallis H, and Mann-Whitney U tests.

OUTCOMES AND RESULTS

The reliability of the SED-S was high, the convergent validity was good, and divergent validity was indicated in relation to autism spectrum disorder (ASD), visual and/or auditory impairment, and adaptive functioning.

FURTHER RESEARCH

Research is needed to better understand the implications of ASD and visual and/or auditory impairment on emotional development and their association with (normal) intelligence. Children with ID may also benefit from (more) detailed guidelines for imbalanced profiles on the SED-S.

The Mizan meta-memory and meta-concentration scale for students (MMSS): a test of its psychometric validity in a sample of university students

BACKGROUND

Predisposing factors for metacognitive dysfunctions are common in university students. However, there is currently no valid questionnaire instrument designed to assess metacognitive aspects including meta-memory and meta-concentration in students. To address this need, the present study investigated the psychometric validity of a brief questionnaire, the Mizan meta-memory and meta-concentration scale for students (MMSS) in university students.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional study with simple random sampling was conducted among students (n = 383, age = 18-35, body mass index = 21.2 ± 3.4 kg/m2) of Mizan-Tepi University, Ethiopia. MMSS, a socio-demographics questionnaire, and the Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) were employed.

RESULTS

No ceiling/floor effect was seen for the MMSS global and its sub-scale scores. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that a 2-Factor model had excellent fit. Both, the comparative Fit Index (CFI) and goodness of fit index were above 0.95, while both the standardized root mean square residual and root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) were less than 0.05, while χ2/df was less than 3 and PClose was 0.31. The 2-Factor MMSS model had adequate configural, metric, scalar, and strict invariances across gender groups as determined by a CFI > .95, RMSEA<.05, χ2/df < 3, non-significant Δχ2 and/or ΔCFI≤.01. Good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.84, 0.80 and McDonald's Omega =0.84, 0.82) was found for both subscales of the MMSS. No correlations between the MMSS scores and ESS score favored its divergent validity.

CONCLUSION

The MMSS was found to have favorable psychometric validity for assessing meta-memory and meta-concentration among university students.

The Star Excursion Balance Test: Criterion and divergent validity on patients with femoral acetabular impingement

BACKGROUND

A valid functional test, evaluating dynamic balance control, might be valuable clinic tool for evaluation of treatment outcome on patients with femoral acetabular impingement (FAI).

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to evaluate criterion and divergent validity of the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) on patients with bilateral FAI- changes, with unilateral clinical symptoms.

METHOD

In this cross sectional correlational and comparative study fifteen patients with bilateral FAI with unilateral symptoms and 15 controls participated. Criterion validity was determined by analysing agreement between SEBT and The Copenhagen Hip and Groin Outcome Score (HAGOS), The Hip Sports Activity Scale (HSAS), pain and leg strength on FAI patients. Divergent validity was determined by comparing SEBT on FAI patients with controls and by comparing SEBT on patient's symptomatic and asymptomatic hips.

RESULTS/FINDINGS

SEBT posterolateral and posteromedial direction had high criterion validity in relation to HAGOS subscale pain intensity and symptoms (r^s = 0.75, p = 0.001, respectively r^s = 0.70, p = 0.004). Criterion validity was low in relation to HAGOS subscales sports, recreation, participation in physical activity and quality of life. SEBT in the posterolateral and posteromedial direction had good divergent validity (p = 0.006, respectively p = 0.001) and in the posterolateral direction SEBT could differentiate between patient's symptomatic and asymptomatic hip (p = 0.005).

CONCLUSIONS

SEBT in posterolateral and posteromedial direction has good criterion validity in relation to pain and other symptoms. In the posterolateral and posteromedial direction SEBT also had divergent validity. Clinically it is recommended to combine SEBT in the posterolateral and posteromedial direction with other measurements on patients with FAI.

DSM-5 section III personality traits and section II personality disorders in a Flemish community sample

The Personality Inventory for DSM-5 (PID-5; Krueger et al., 2012) is a dimensional self-report questionnaire designed to measure personality pathology according to the criterion B of the DSM-5 Section III personality model. In the current issue of DSM, this dimensional Section III personality model co-exists with the Section II categorical personality model derived from DSM-IV-TR. Therefore, investigation of the inter-relatedness of both models across populations and languages is warranted. In this study, we first examined the factor structure and reliability of the PID-5 in a Flemish community sample (N=509) by means of exploratory structural equation modeling and alpha coefficients. Next, we investigated the predictive ability of section III personality traits in relation to section II personality disorders through correlations and stepwise regression analyses. Results revealed a five factor solution for the PID-5, with adequate reliability of the facet scales. The variance in Section II personality disorders could be predicted by their theoretically comprising Section III personality traits, but additional Section III personality traits augmented this prediction. Based on current results, we discuss the Section II personality disorder conceptualization and the Section III personality disorder operationalization.