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Empathy is essential for social functioning and is relevant to a host of clinical conditions. This COSMIN review evaluated the empirical support for empathy self-report measures used with autistic and nonautistic adults. Given autism is characterized by social differences, it is the subject of a substantial proportion of empathy research. Therefore, this review uses autism as a lens through which to scrutinize the psychometric quality of empathy measures. Of the 19 measures identified, five demonstrated "High-Quality" evidence for "Insufficient" properties and cannot be recommended. The remaining 14 had noteworthy gaps in evidence and require further evaluation before use with either group. Without tests of measurement invariance or differential item functioning, the extent to which observed group differences represent actual trait differences remains unknown. Using autism as a test case highlights an alarming tendency for empathy measures to be used to characterize, and potentially malign vulnerable populations before sufficient validation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. This study aimed to develop a motor-free short-form of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children–Fifth Edition (WISC-V) that allows clinicians to estimate the Full Scale Intelligence Quotients of youths with motor impairments. Method. Using the reliabilities and intercorrelations of six WISC-V motor-free subtests, psychometric methodologies were applied to develop look-up tables for four Motor-free Short-form indices: Verbal Comprehension Short-form, Perceptual Reasoning Short-form, Working Memory Short-form, and a Motor-free Intelligence Quotient. Index-level discrepancy tables were developed using the same methods to allow clinicians to statistically compare visual, verbal, and working memory abilities. Results. The short-form indices had excellent reliabilities (r =.92-.97) comparable to the original WISC-V. Conclusion. This motor-free short-form of the WISC-V is a reliable alternative for the assessment of intellectual functioning in youths with motor impairments. Clinicians are provided with user-friendly look-up tables, index level discrepancy tables, and base rates, displayed similar to those in the WISC-V manuals to enable interpretation of assessment results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sample sizes of 50 have been cited as sufficient to obtain stable means and standard deviations in normative test data. The influence of skewness on this minimum number, however, has not been evaluated. Normative test data with varying levels of skewness were compiled for 12 measures from 7 tests collected as part of ongoing normative studies in Brisbane, Australia. Means and standard deviations were computed from sample sizes of 10 to 100 drawn with replacement from larger samples of 272 to 973 cases. The minimum sample size was determined by the number at which both mean and standard deviation estimates remained within the 90% confidence intervals surrounding the population estimates. Sample sizes of greater than 85 were found to generate stable means and standard deviations regardless of the level of skewness, with smaller samples required in skewed distributions. A formula was derived to compute recommended sample size at differing levels of skewness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Discrepancy analyses refer to comparison methods that evaluate the relationship or differences between two measures in the same individual. A common type of discrepancy analysis involves the comparison of two trials within a measure, such as, Trails A and B of the Trail Making Test (TMT). The TMT is well-suited to this role as the two measures are highly correlated, assess similar underlying constructs, and most importantly demonstrate differential vulnerability to the impact of pathology. While the inclusion of these types of data in the form of difference scores or ratios has become more frequent, this information has been presented only for demographically adjusted subgroups and has not taken into account the level of performance of the comparison trial, Trails A. Method: The role and advantages of discrepancy analysis with the TMT stratified by level of Trails A performance were demonstrated with an Australian normative sample of 647 participants and a heterogeneous clinical sample consisting of 2,292 Australian and U.S. cases. Results: The ability to differentiate between the influence of slowed visual scanning and/or graphomotor speed, and reduced mental flexibility was demonstrated by applying the normative data to clinical case discrepancies. The importance of accounting for the variability in discrepancy scores associated with the level of performance of Trails A was also highlighted. Conclusion: A simple, efficient, and effective approach to examining the basis for differences between TMT-A and TMT-B performances is provided to examine the relative contributions of perceptual/motor abilities, and mental flexibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose state:Determine the efficacy of Move-it-to-improve-it (Mitii™), a multi-modal web-based program, in improving Executive Function (EF) in children with unilateral cerebral palsy (UCP). Method:Participants (n = 102) were matched in pairs then randomized to: intervention (Mitii™ for 20 weeks;n = 51; 26 males; mean age = 11 years 8 months (SD = 2 years 4 months); Full Scale IQ = 84.65 (SD = 15.19); 28 left UCP; GMFCS-E&R (I = 20, II = 31) or waitlist control (n = 50; 25 males; mean age = 11 years 10 months (SD = 2 years 5 months); Full Scale IQ = 80.75 (SD = 19.81); 20 left UCP; GMFCS-E&R (I = 25, II = 25). Mitii™ targeted working memory (WM), visual processing (VP), upper limb co-ordination and physical activity. EF capacity was assessed: attentional control (DSB; WISC-IV); cognitive flexibility (inhibition and number-letter sequencing DKEFS); goal setting (D-KEFs Tower Test); and information processing (WISC-IV Symbol Search and Coding). EF performance was assessed via parent report (BRIEF). Groups were compared at 20 weeks using linear regression (SPSS 21). Results:There were no significant between group differences in attentional control (DSB;p = 0.20;CI= −0.40,1.87); cognitive flexibility (Inhibition,p = 0.34; CI= −0.73,2.11; number/letter sequencing,p = 0.17; CI= −0.55,2.94); problem solving (Tower;p = 0.28; CI= −0.61,2.09), information processing (Symbol;p = 0.08; CI= −0.16, 2.75; Coding;p = 0.07; CI= −0.12,2.52) or EF performance (p = 0.13; CI= −10.04,1.38). Conclusion:In a large RCT, MitiiTMdid not lead to significant improvements on measures of EF or parent ratings of EF performance in children with UCP.Implications for rehabilitationA large RCT of the multi-modal web based training; Move It to Improve It (MitiiTM) improves motor processing, visual perception, and physical capacity but does demonstrate statistically significant improvements or clinical significance in executive function in children with mild to moderate unilateral cerebral palsy (UCP).MitiiTM training completed by an intervention group was highly variable with few children reaching the target dosage of 60 h. Technical issues including server and internet connectively problems lead to disengagement with the program.Web-based training delivered in the home has the potential to increase therapy dose and accessibility, however, MitiiTM needs to be tailored to include tasks involving goal-setting, more complex problem solving using multi-dimensional strategies, mental flexibility, switching between two cognitively demanding tasks, and greater novelty in order to increase the cognitive component and challenge required to drive changes in EF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose state: Determine the efficacy of Move-it-to-improve-it (Mitii™), a multi-modal web-based program, in improving Executive Function (EF) in children with unilateral cerebral palsy (UCP). Method: Participants (n=102) were matched in pairs then randomized to: intervention (Mitii™ for 20 weeks; n=51; 26 males; mean age=11 years 8 months (SD=2 years 4 months); Full Scale IQ=84.65 (SD=15.19); 28 left UCP; GMFCS-E&R (I=20, II=31) or waitlist control (n=50; 25 males; mean age=11 years 10 months (SD=2 years 5 months); Full Scale IQ=80.75 (SD=19.81); 20 left UCP; GMFCS-E&R (I=25, II=25). Mitii™ targeted working memory (WM), visual processing (VP), upper limb co-ordination and physical activity. EF capacity was assessed: attentional control (DSB; WISC-IV); cognitive flexibility (inhibition and number-letter sequencing DKEFS); goal setting (D-KEFs Tower Test); and information processing (WISC-IV Symbol Search and Coding). EF performance was assessed via parent report (BRIEF). Groups were compared at 20 weeks using linear regression (SPSS 21). Results: There were no significant between group differences in attentional control (DSB; p=0.20; CI=-0.40,1.87); cognitive flexibility (Inhibition, p=0.34; CI=-0.73,2.11; number/letter sequencing, p=0.17; CI=-0.55,2.94); problem solving (Tower; p=0.28; CI=-0.61,2.09), information processing (Symbol; p=0.08; CI=-0.16, 2.75; Coding; p=0.07; CI=-0.12,2.52) or EF performance (p=0.13; CI=-10.04,1.38). Conclusion: In a large RCT, Mitii™ did not lead to significant improvements on measures of EF or parent ratings of EF performance in children with UCP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]