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To examine the convergent validity of the Test of Effort (TOE), a performance validity test (PVT) currently under development that employs a two-subtest (one verbal, one visual), forced-choice recognition memory format. A descriptive, correlational design was employed to describe performance on the TOE and examine the convergent validity between the TOE and comparison measures. A sample of 53 individuals with chronic acquired brain injury (ABI) were administered the TOE and three well-validated PVTs (Reliable Digit Span [RDS], Test of Memory Malingering [TOMM] and Dot Counting Test [DCT]). The TOE appeared more difficult than it actually was, suggesting adequate face validity. Medium-to-large correlations were observed between the TOE and established PVTs, suggesting good convergent validity. Provisional cutoff scores are offered based on performance of a subgroup of participants with "sufficient effort." Overall, the TOE shows promise as a PVT measure for clinical use. Future studies with larger and more diverse samples are needed to more fully determine the psychometric characteristics of the TOE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To identify the factor structure of the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) clinical scales for military service members with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Retrospective analysis of existing data base. The sample included 210 service members with TBI who completed the PAI as part of a neuropsychological evaluation at a military TBI clinic. Statistical analysis included exploratory factor analysis of 214 items of the 11 PAI clinical scales. Exploratory factor analysis indicated a four-factor solution accounting for 30.4% of the variance in scores. A review of the face validity of the items from each factor generated the following factor labels: Somatic/Psychiatric/Cognitive Distress, Social Distress, Substance Misuse, and Depression. The PAI appears to assess general distress (i.e., somatic/psychiatric/cognitive) and substance misuse constructs for both psychiatric and TBI populations, but it also appears to assess a "social distress" construct (i.e., difficulties socializing in both military and civilian populations) that is unique to military populations. Suggestions are offered to re-conceptualize PAI clinical scales specific to psychopathology (i.e., schizophrenia, paranoia, mania, borderline, antisocial) and personality disorders (i.e., borderline, antisocial) in terms of neurologic and military specific issues for service members with TBI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To adapt the well-validated 37-item adult Family Needs Questionnaire to make it suitable for families of children and youth with acquired brain injury (ABI). Methods: Measurement construction employed a modified Delphi technique to identify the most relevant content items for the pediatric Family Needs Questionnaire (FNQ-P). The Delphi process involved a panel of 11 ABI-team clinicians and seven family caregivers of children/youth with an ABI and four rounds of anonymous voting on each item's importance. Qualitative responses related to each item's review were incorporated into item content and wording decisions. Cognitive interviews were conducted with three parents after the Delphi to evaluate face and content validity. Results: The outcome of the final Delphi round was a set of 40 items within the original FNQ's original six categories: Health Information (n = 10), Emotional Support (n = 6), Instrumental Support (n = 4), Professional Support (n = 6), Community Support (n = 6), and Involvement with Care (n = 8). Cognitive interviews resulted in changes to formatting, rating scale, and item wording, and culminated in overall consensus about the FNQ-P's face/content validity. Conclusions: Use of the Delphi process with family and clinical partners resulted in content-endorsed pediatric FNQ that is ready for validation work prior to transfer to clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]