Test-retest reliability of the play-or-pass version of the Iowa Gambling Task.

The Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) is used to assess decision-making in clinical populations. The original IGT does not disambiguate reward and punishment learning; however, an adaptation of the task, the "play-or-pass" IGT, was developed to better distinguish between reward and punishment learning. We evaluated the test-retest reliability of measures of reward and punishment learning from the play-or-pass IGT and examined associations with self-reported measures of reward/punishment sensitivity and internalizing symptoms. Participants completed the task across two sessions, and we calculated mean-level differences and rank-order stability of behavioral measures across the two sessions using traditional scoring, involving session-wide choice proportions, and computational modeling, involving estimates of different aspects of trial-level learning. Measures using both approaches were reliable; however, computational modeling provided more insights regarding between-session changes in performance, and how performance related to self-reported measures of reward/punishment sensitivity and internalizing symptoms. Our results show promise in using the play-or-pass IGT to assess decision-making; however, further work is still necessary to validate the play-or-pass IGT.

Further Evidence of Feasibility, Validity, and Reliability of Quality of Life-Aged Care Consumers: Evidence From Home-Based Care Settings.

OBJECTIVES: The Quality of Life-Aged Care Consumers (QOL-ACC) is an aged-care-specific preference-based instrument currently being rolled out in residential care across Australia as part of the aged care Quality Indicator program. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive assessment of the feasibility, reliability, and construct validity of the QOL-ACC in a large national sample of older adults receiving aged care services at home. METHODS: Older adults receiving in-home aged care services completed a survey including the QOL-ACC, Quality of Care Experience-ACC, adult social care outcome tool, EQ-5D-5L, and 2 global single item measures of health and quality of life. Feasibility was assessed by missing responses (≤5%) and ceiling/floor effects (≤15%). Construct validity was assessed by exploring the relationship between the QOL-ACC and other instruments (convergent validity) and its ability to discriminate varying levels of self-rated health and quality of life (known-group validity). RESULTS: A total of 802 respondents (mean age, 74.5 ± 6.3 years; 56.0% females) completed the survey. The QOL-ACC had no missing responses, no floor effects, and very low ceiling effect (3.5%) and demonstrated moderate correlation with adult social care outcome tool (r = 0.59, P < .001), EQ-5D-5L (r = 0.65, P < .001), EQ-VAS (r = 0.53, P < .001), and a lower correlation with the QCE-ACC (r = 0.41, P < .001). Respondents with poor self-rated health and quality of life had significantly lower preference-weighted scores on the QOL-ACC. CONCLUSIONS: The QOL-ACC demonstrated adequate feasibility, reliability, and construct validity in a large population of older people accessing government-subsidized aged care services at home. Further studies will explore the responsiveness of the QOL-ACC to aged-care-specific interventions both in home and residential aged care settings.

The Starkstein Apathy Scale-Italian Version: An Update.

Apathy can manifest in various neuropsychiatric conditions, as well as in individuals who experience significant stressful life events or suffer from underlying internal medical conditions. The Starkstein Apathy Scale (SAS) is recognized as a reliable screening tool, besides being endorsed by the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society to assess apathy in patients with Parkinson's disease. Recently, the Italian version of this scale (SAS-I) has been introduced. Furthermore, normative data have been provided on a large sample of Italian healthy individuals. Here we present the official Italian translation of the SAS, along with clarifications regarding its administration. Also, we supply details concerning the scale's factorial structure, inter-item conditional associations and item performance by using EFA, Network analysis, and IRT modelling for polytomous items.

Initial evaluation of measurement properties of the Work Environment Impact Questionnaire (WEIQ) - using Rasch analysis.

BACKGROUND: To provide both preventive and rehabilitative conditions in a workplace, one must understand how employees experience work demands. Such an understanding can be obtained from each individual with valid and quality-assured questionnaires. The Work Environment Impact Questionnaire (WEIQ) is a new questionnaire for measuring employees' self-perceived work ability in relation to their specific workplace environment. The purpose of this study was to assess the measurement properties in terms of construct validity of the WEIQ. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey study was conducted with 288 respondents from three different workplaces involving assisted living personnel, vocational rehabilitation personnel and personnel at a research institute. The measurement properties of the WEIQ were assessed according to Rasch Measurement Theory (RMT), including assessment of item-to-sample targeting, threshold ordering, item fit statistics, unidimensionality and reliability. RESULTS: Item fit, i.e., fit residuals, item characteristic curves (ICC) and chi square values, were all satisfactory, and no disordered thresholds were present after collapsing the lowest response categories. However, issues with local dependent (LD) item correlations was present in 7.6% cases, four items showed statistically significant differential item functioning (DIF), where 11% of the respondents had person fit residuals outside the recommended range of ± 2.5 and the t-test for unidimensionality did not meet the criterion of 5%. Scale-to-sample targeting and reliability (0.92) were good. LD could be resolved with testlets and at the same time maintaining fit and improving dimensionality, but then the reliability decreased to 0.82. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides an initial validation of the WEIQ to be used for assessing employees' self-perceived work ability. Most measurement properties were acceptable, but further exploration of LD, DIF and unidimensionality in additional work settings and with larger sample sizes is warranted. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Not applicable.

Factor structure of psychosis screening questionnaire in Ugandan adults.

BACKGROUND: Psychotic disorders are common and contribute significantly to morbidity and mortality of people with psychiatric diseases. Therefore, early screening and detection may facilitate early intervention and reduce adverse outcomes. Screening tools that lay persons can administer are particularly beneficial in low resource settings. However, there is limited research evaluating the validity of psychosis screening instruments in Uganda. We aimed to assess the construct validity and psychometric properties of the Psychosis Screening Questionnaire (PSQ) in Uganda in a population with no history of a psychotic disorder. METHODS: The sample consisted of 2101 Ugandan adults participating as controls in a larger multi-country case-control study on psychiatric genetics who were recruited between February 2018 and March 2020. Participants were individuals seeking outpatient general medical care, caretakers of individuals seeking care, and staff or students recruited from five medical facilities that were age 18 years or older and able to provide consent. Individuals were excluded who had acute levels of alcohol or substance use, including being under inpatient hospitalization or acute medical care for one of these conditions. We used confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and item response theory (IRT) to evaluate the factor structure and item properties of the PSQ. RESULTS: The overall prevalence screening positive for psychotic symptoms was 13.9% 95% CI (12.4,15.4). "Strange experiences" were the most endorsed symptoms 6.6% 95% CI (5.6,7.8). A unidimensional model seemed to be a good model or well-fitting based on fit indices including the root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA of 0.00), comparative fit index (CFI of 1.000), and Tucker-Lewis Index (TLI of 1.000). The most discriminating items along the latent construct of psychosis were items assessing thought disturbance followed by items assessing paranoia, with a parameter (discrimination) value of 2.53 and 2.40, respectively. CONCLUSION: The PSQ works well in Uganda as an initial screening tool for moderate to high-level of psychotic symptoms.

The Swedish PedsQL gastrointestinal symptoms scale and symptoms module showed good psychometric performance.

AIM: There is no validated symptom scale for Swedish children with gastrointestinal disorders. Our aim was to validate the Swedish version of the Paediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) gastrointestinal symptoms scale and symptoms module. METHODS: Families were recruited from two hospitals in Gothenburg, Sweden, from 1 March 2021 to 31 October 2022. The instruments were completed by 115 children with functional, congenital or organic acquired gastrointestinal disorders and 149 of their parents. These were the gastrointestinal symptoms scales, symptoms module and the 4.0 Generic core scale. Data were analysed for feasibility, construct validity and reliability, including internal consistency, re-test reliability and child-parent agreement. RESULTS: Feasibility was good, with a failure to respond of ≤5%. Construct validity showed strong correlation in the PedsQL gastrointestinal symptoms module. The known-group validity agreed with the expectations associated with the disease characteristics (p < 0.05). Cronbach's alpha was 0.96, which indicated excellent internal reliability. The intraclass correlation coefficient for the child self-report and parent-proxy report was 0.74, which indicated good agreement. CONCLUSION: The Swedish PedsQL Gastrointestinal Symptoms Scales, the symptoms module provided acceptable measurement properties and can be used to evaluate symptoms of gastrointestinal disorders and quality of life during clinical work or research projects.

Factorial invariance of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fifth Edition, across the UK, US and Australia & New Zealand.

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the factorial invariance of the factor structure of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fifth Edition (WISC-V) across the UK, US and Australia & New Zealand (A&NZ). The factorial equivalence of cognitive assessments should be demonstrated before assuming cross-culture generalizability and interpretations of score comparisons. METHODS: Data were obtained from the UK, US and A&NZ normative standardizations of the WISC-V. The samples consisted of 415 UK, 2200 US and 528 A&NZ children, aged 6-16. Confirmatory factor analysis was applied separately in each sample to establish the baseline model. Next, tests of factorial invariance were undertaken using the recommended hierarchical approach, firstly across the UK and A&NZ samples and then across the UK and US samples. RESULTS: The five-factor first-order scoring model was found to be excellent fit across all three samples independently. Strict factorial invariance of the WISC-V was demonstrated firstly across the UK and A&NZ and secondly the UK and US nationally representative standardization samples. Comparison of latent means found small but significant differences in female children across the UK and A&NZ samples. CONCLUSIONS: Consistent with previous research, these results demonstrate the generality of the WISC-V factor structure across the UK, US and A&NZ. Furthermore, as the WISC-V factor structure aligns with the Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC) model of cognitive abilities, the results add further support to the cross-cultural generalizability of the CHC model. Small but significant differences in latent factor scores found across samples support the development and use of local normative data.

Development of a brief core set for knee dysfunction based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health: assessing construct validity and measurement potential.

BACKGROUND: The comprehensive core set for knee dysfunction was developed to classify the functioning of people with any knee dysfunction. To be used as a clinical instrument to measure the functioning of people with knee dysfunction, the construct validity of the core set still needs to be assessed. The purpose of this study was to analyze the construct validity of the comprehensive core set for knee dysfunction as an instrument to measure functioning. METHODS: A cross-sectional study with 200 participants with knee dysfunction with or without clinical diagnosis of knee pathology, with or without complaint of pain, with or without instability, and/or with or without knee movement restriction of any type. Participants were assessed using the comprehensive core set for knee dysfunction with 25 categories, the subjective form from the International Knee Documentation Committee scale, and measures of self-perceived general health and functioning. The construct validity of the core set was assessed by Rasch analysis, and the external construct validity was assessed by correlation between the score of the brief core set for knee dysfunction with the subjective form from the International Knee Documentation Committee scale, and scores of self-perception of health and functioning. RESULTS: Twelve categories were consistent with a unidimensional construct, with no difference in the response pattern for age, sex, educational level, and time of complaint. These categories were included in the brief core set for knee dysfunction. The mean score of the brief core set was 37 ± 21 points, a value classified as moderate impairment regarding functioning. Correlations with the subjective form from the International Knee Documentation Committee scale and scores of self-perception were adequate (p < 0.01; r > 0.5). CONCLUSION: The brief core set for knee dysfunction, a set with 12 categories, can be used as a clinical instrument to measure and score the functioning of people with knee dysfunction, aged between 18 and 89 years, with adequate construct validity.

Formative peer evaluation instrument for a team-based learning course: Content and construct validity.

PURPOSE: Team-based learning (TBL) is an evidence-based approach to promote teamwork. Peer evaluation (PE) is an essential component to shape future team engagement and promote reflection. As PEs vary in use, implementation, and assessment, this study establishes the content and construct validity of a formative PE tool for a TBL course. METHODS: A ten-item instrument was developed based on a comprehensive review of PE literature and was critically edited by a team of experienced educators. Each student in a graduate histology course rated peers at two timepoints on a scale from Never to Always (0-3). The instrument's factor structure was analyzed by dividing the response set (D1 and D2); with D1 utilized for exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and D2 for confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Cronbach's alpha assessed internal consistency. RESULTS: Data from 158 students across four cohorts were included in the analyses (D1, D2 = 972). A three-factor solution had good overall internal consistency (alpha = 0.82), and within the subscales ranged from 0.67 to 0.81. The factor structures were resonant with existing literature on (1) preparation, (2) providing feedback, and (3) feedback receptivity and attitude. CONCLUSION: This study establishes evidence of content and construct validity of a formative PE instrument for a TBL course.

Adaptation and validation of the evidence-based practice profile (EBP2) questionnaire in a Norwegian primary healthcare setting.

BACKGROUND: Access to valid and reliable instruments is essential in the field of implementation science, where the measurement of factors associated with healthcare professionals' uptake of EBP is central. The Norwegian version of the Evidence-based practice profile questionnaire (EBP2-N) measures EBP constructs, such as EBP knowledge, confidence, attitudes, and behavior. Despite its potential utility, the EBP2-N requires further validation before being used in a cross-sectional survey targeting different healthcare professionals in Norwegian primary healthcare. This study assessed the content validity, construct validity, and internal consistency of the EBP2-N among Norwegian primary healthcare professionals. METHODS: To evaluate the content validity of the EBP2-N, we conducted qualitative individual interviews with eight healthcare professionals in primary healthcare from different disciplines. Qualitative data was analyzed using the "text summary" model, followed by panel group discussions, minor linguistic changes, and a pilot test of the revised version. To evaluate construct validity (structural validity) and internal consistency, we used data from a web-based cross-sectional survey among nurses, assistant nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, medical doctors, and other professionals (n = 313). Structural validity was tested using a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) on the original five-factor structure, and Cronbach's alpha was calculated to assess internal consistency. RESULTS: The qualitative interviews with primary healthcare professionals indicated that the content of the EBP2-N was perceived to reflect the constructs intended to be measured by the instrument. However, interviews revealed concerns regarding the formulation of some items, leading to minor linguistic revisions. In addition, several participants expressed that some of the most specific research terms in the terminology domain felt less relevant to them in clinical practice. CFA results exposed partial alignment with the original five-factor model, with the following model fit indices: CFI = 0.749, RMSEA = 0.074, and SRMR = 0.075. Cronbach's alphas ranged between 0.82 and 0.95 for all domains except for the Sympathy domain (0.69), indicating good internal consistency in four out of five domains. CONCLUSION: The EBP2-N is a suitable instrument for measuring Norwegian primary healthcare professionals' EBP knowledge, attitudes, confidence, and behavior. Although EBP2-N seems to be an adequate instrument in its current form, we recommend that future research focuses on further assessing the factor structure, evaluating the relevance of the items, and the number of items needed. REGISTRATION: Retrospectively registered (prior to data analysis) in OSF Preregistration. Registration DOI: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/428RP .

Construct, Face, and Predictive Validity of Parkinson's Disease Rodent Models.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease globally. Current drugs only alleviate symptoms without halting disease progression, making rodent models essential for researching new therapies and understanding the disease better. However, selecting the right model is challenging due to the numerous models and protocols available. Key factors in model selection include construct, face, and predictive validity. Construct validity ensures the model replicates pathological changes seen in human PD, focusing on dopaminergic neurodegeneration and a-synuclein aggregation. Face validity ensures the model's symptoms mirror those in humans, primarily reproducing motor and non-motor symptoms. Predictive validity assesses if treatment responses in animals will reflect those in humans, typically involving classical pharmacotherapies and surgical procedures. This review highlights the primary characteristics of PD and how these characteristics are validated experimentally according to the three criteria. Additionally, it serves as a valuable tool for researchers in selecting the most appropriate animal model based on established validation criteria.

Evaluation of the Swedish Self-Efficacy in Palliative Care Scale and exploration of nurses' and physicians' self-efficacy in Swedish hospitals: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Previous research found that healthcare professionals had low preparedness for palliative care. Thus, it is necessary to explore healthcare professionals' self-efficacy. The Swedish Self-Efficacy in Palliative Care Scale (SEPC-SE) evaluates readiness in communication, patient management and multidisciplinary teamwork; however, it should be tested on a larger population. Furthermore, the constructs of the SEPC-SE should be compared to that of the original SEPC. AIM: This study aimed to evaluate the consensus between the construct validity and reliability of the SEPC and the translated and adapted SEPC-SE. Furthermore, it aimed to describe and compare the self-efficacy of nurses and physicians in hospitals and explore the associated factors. METHODS: The nurses (n = 288) and physicians (n = 104) completed the SEPC-SE. Factor analysis with Cronbach's alpha evaluated validity and reliability, and an analysis using the Mann-Whitney U test compared self-efficacy and multiple linear regression-associated factors. RESULTS: The SEPC-SE revealed three factors with high reliability. Education or experience in specialised palliative care was minor, especially for nurses. Self-efficacy was highest in patient management (nurses, median [md] = 74.57, physicians md = 81.71, p = 0.010) and communication (nurses md = 69.88, physicians md = 77.00, p = 0.141) and lowest in multidisciplinary teamwork (nurses md = 52.44, physicians md = 62.88, p = 0.001). The strongest associations with self-efficacy were education at work and advanced homecare experiences. In addition, there were significant associations between years in the profession, male sex, physicians and university education. CONCLUSION: The SEPC-SE is valid and reliable for measuring self-efficacy. Nurses had lower self-efficacy than physicians. Physicians were associated with higher self-efficacy and had more education and experience in palliative care settings, which may explain their levels of self-efficacy.

What do we manipulate when reminding people of (not) having control? In search of construct validity.

The construct of personal control is crucial for understanding a variety of human behaviors. Perceived lack of control affects performance and psychological well-being in diverse contexts - educational, organizational, clinical, and social. Thus, it is important to know to what extent we can rely on the established experimental manipulations of (lack of) control. In this article, we examine the construct validity of recall-based manipulations of control (or lack thereof). Using existing datasets (Study 1a and 1b: N = 627 and N = 454, respectively) we performed content-based analyses of control experiences induced by two different procedures (free recall and positive events recall). The results indicate low comparability between high and low control conditions in terms of the emotionality of a recalled event, the domain and sphere of control, amongst other differences. In an experimental study that included three types of recall-based control manipulations (Study 2: N = 506), we found that the conditions differed not only in emotionality but also in a generalized sense of control. This suggests that different aspects of personal control can be activated, and other constructs evoked, depending on the experimental procedure. We discuss potential sources of variability between control manipulation procedures and propose improvements in practices when using experimental manipulations of sense of control and other psychological constructs.

Illustrating psychometric tests, scales, and constructs: An R package for Item Pool Visualization.

Researchers assessing psychological constructs have to understand and choose between several competing measures. Item Pool Visualization (IPV, Dantlgraber et al., 2019) was developed to offer a systematic and detailed portrayal of the actual content and internal balance of competing measures. To enable the use of IPV, we developed and present here the IPV R package. Its aim is to allow researchers to add IPV to their repertoire with minimal effort. Creating IPV charts from raw data requires two simple function calls, because the package streamlines model specification, model estimation, and chart creation. It improves IPV conceptually by introducing the aggregate center distance and the item overview chart. It provides many customization options and generates high-quality, vector-based PDF output. The workflow of the package is explained using a reproducible open data example from a personality assessment.

An examination of model fit and measurement invariance of general mental ability and personality measures used in the multilingual context of the Swiss Armed Forces: A Bayesian structural equation modeling approach.

Measurement invariance of psychological test batteries is an essential quality criterion when the test batteries are administered in different cultural and language contexts. The purpose of this study was to examine to what extent measurement model fit and measurement invariance across the two largest language groups in Switzerland (i.e., German and French speakers) can be assumed for selected general mental ability and personality tests used in the Swiss Armed Forces' cadre selection process. For the model fit and invariance testing, we used Bayesian structural equation modeling (BSEM). Because the sizes of the language group samples were unbalanced, we reran the invariance testing with the subsampling procedure as a robustness check. The results showed that at least partial approximate scalar invariance can be assumed for the constructs. However, comparisons in the full sample and subsamples also showed that certain test items function differently across the language groups. The results are discussed regarding the three following issues: First, we critically discuss the applied criterion and alternative effect size measures for assessing the practical importance of non-invariances. Second, we highlight potential remedies and further testing options, that can be applied, once certain items have been detected to function differently. Third, we discuss alternative modeling and invariance testing approaches to BSEM and outline future research avenues.

Validating the Hebrew Version of the Modified Dementia Worry Scale (H-MDWS).

The body of knowledge regarding dementia worry - people's sense of threat about developing dementia - is still limited. Additional studies are essential to better understand levels of dementia worry and its correlates, especially in cross-cultural contexts. To reach this goal, it is critical to use structured and valid measures to assess dementia worry and to verify these measures in different languages. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Hebrew version of the Modified Dementia Worry Scale (the H-MDWS). A cross-sectional study using an online survey was conducted with 368 Israeli laypeople who were 18 years of age or older (53% women, 76% Jewish, mean age = 40, average years of education = 14). In addition to the H-MDWS, participants were asked to report their fear of Alzheimer's disease (using a dichotomous single item), stigma, health anxiety, and demographic characteristics. Reliability analyses showed that the Cronbach's alpha for the H-MDWS was excellent (α = 0.95). The results of the factor analysis demonstrated that the scale has a unidimensional structure, explaining over 66% of the variance. In addition, we found significant correlations between fear of developing Alzheimer's disease, stigma, and health anxiety, on the one hand, and the H-MDWS on the other. The H-MDWS is a reliable and valid tool for assessing dementia worry. The validation of the tool not only allows expanding the body of knowledge related to dementia worry, but will also allow professionals and caregivers to identify people who are at risk of reporting dementia worry and develop interventions accordingly.

Responsiveness and construct validity of EPIC-26, AQoL-6D and SF-6D following treatment in prostate cancer.

PURPOSE: To assess construct validity and responsiveness of the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite Instrument (EPIC-26) relative to the Short-Form Six-Dimension (SF-6D) and Assessment of Quality of Life 6-Dimension (AQoL-6D) in patients following treatment for prostate cancer. METHODS: Retrospective prostate cancer registry data were used. The SF-6D, AQoL-6D, and EPIC-26 were collected at baseline and one year post treatment. Analyses were based on Spearman's correlation coefficient, Bland-Altman plots and intra-class correlation coefficient, Kruskal Wallis, and Effect Size and the Standardised Response Mean for responsiveness. RESULTS: The study sample was comprised of 1915 patients. Complete case analysis of 3,697 observations showed moderate evidence of convergent validity between EPIC-26 vitality/hormonal domain and AQoL-6D (r = 0.45 and 0.54) and SF-6D (r = 0.52 and 0.56) at both timepoints. Vitality/hormonal domain also showed moderate convergent validity with coping domain of AQoL-6D (r = 0.45 and 0.54) and with role (r = 0.41 and 0.49) and social function (r = 0.47 and 0.50) domains of SF-6D at both timepoints, and with independent living (r = 0.40) and mental health (r = 0.43) of AQoL-6D at one year. EPIC-26 sexual domain had moderate convergent validity with relationship domain (r = 0.42 and 0.41) of AQoL-6D at both timepoints. Both AQoL-6D and SF-6D did not discriminate between age groups and tumour stage at both timepoints but AQoL-6D discriminated between outcomes for different treatments at one year. All EPIC-26 domains discriminated between age groups and treatment at both timepoints. The EPIC-26 was more responsive than AQoL-6D and SF-6D between baseline and one year following treatment. CONCLUSIONS: AQoL-6D can be used in combination with EPIC-26 in place of SF-12. Although EPIC-26 is not utility based, its popularity amongst clinicians and ability to discriminate between disease-specific characteristics and post-treatment outcomes in clinical trials makes it a candidate for use within cost-effectiveness analyses. The generic measure provides a holistic assessment of quality of life and is suitable for generating quality adjusted life years (QALYs).

Validation of bladder health scales and function indices for women's research.

BACKGROUND: Existing bladder-specific measures lack the ability to assess the full range of bladder health, from poor to optimal health. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to report evidence of validity of the self-administered, multidimensional bladder health scales and function indices for research in adult women. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional population-based validation study with random assignment to paper or electronic administration was conducted using national address-based probability sampling supplemented by purposive sampling of women with lower urinary tract symptoms in 7 clinical research centers. Construct validity of the bladder health scales and function indices was guided by a multitrait-multimethod approach using health and condition-specific questionnaires, bladder diaries, expert ratings of bladder health, and noninvasive bladder function testing. Internal dimensional validity was evaluated using factor analysis; internal reliability was assessed using paired t-tests and 2-way mixed-effects intraclass correlation coefficient models. Chi-square, Fisher exact, or t-tests were used for mode comparisons. Convergent validity was evaluated using Pearson correlations with the external construct measures, and known-group validity was established with comparison of women known and unknown to be symptomatic of urinary conditions. RESULTS: The sample included 1072 participants. Factor analysis identified 10 scales, with Cronbach's alpha ranging from 0.74 to 0.94. Intraclass correlation coefficients of scales ranged from 0.55 to 0.94. Convergent validity of the 10 scales and 6 indices ranged from 0.52 to 0.83. Known-group validity was confirmed for all scales and indices. Item distribution was similar by mode of administration. CONCLUSION: The paper and electronic forms of the bladder health scales and function indices are reliable and valid measures of bladder health for use in women's health research.

Validity of the NIH toolbox cognitive battery in a healthy oldest-old 85+ sample.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the construct validity of the NIH Toolbox Cognitive Battery (NIH TB-CB) in the healthy oldest-old (85+ years old). METHOD: Our sample from the McKnight Brain Aging Registry consists of 179 individuals, 85 to 99 years of age, screened for memory, neurological, and psychiatric disorders. Using previous research methods on a sample of 85 + y/o adults, we conducted confirmatory factor analyses on models of NIH TB-CB and same domain standard neuropsychological measures. We hypothesized the five-factor model (Reading, Vocabulary, Memory, Working Memory, and Executive/Speed) would have the best fit, consistent with younger populations. We assessed confirmatory and discriminant validity. We also evaluated demographic and computer use predictors of NIH TB-CB composite scores. RESULTS: Findings suggest the six-factor model (Vocabulary, Reading, Memory, Working Memory, Executive, and Speed) had a better fit than alternative models. NIH TB-CB tests had good convergent and discriminant validity, though tests in the executive functioning domain had high inter-correlations with other cognitive domains. Computer use was strongly associated with higher NIH TB-CB overall and fluid cognition composite scores. CONCLUSION: The NIH TB-CB is a valid assessment for the oldest-old samples, with relatively weak validity in the domain of executive functioning. Computer use's impact on composite scores could be due to the executive demands of learning to use a tablet. Strong relationships of executive function with other cognitive domains could be due to cognitive dedifferentiation. Overall, the NIH TB-CB could be useful for testing cognition in the oldest-old and the impact of aging on cognition in older populations.

The reliability and validity of the revised Green et al. paranoid thoughts scale in individuals at clinical high-risk for psychosis.

INTRODUCTION: Paranoia is a common and impairing psychosis symptom, which exists along a severity continuum that extends into the general population. Individuals at clinical high-risk for psychosis (CHR) frequently experience paranoia and this may elevate their risk for developing full psychosis. Nonetheless, limited work has examined the efficient measurement of paranoia in CHR individuals. The present study aimed to validate an often-used self-report measure, the revised green paranoid thoughts scale (RGPTS), in this critical population. METHOD: Participants were CHR individuals (n = 103), mixed clinical controls (n = 80), and healthy controls (n = 71) who completed self-report and interview measures. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), psychometric indices, group differences, and relations to external measures were used to evaluate the reliability and validity of the RGPTS. RESULTS: CFA replicated a two-factor structure for the RGPTS and the associated reference and persecution scales were reliable. CHR individuals scored significantly higher on both reference and persecution, relative to both healthy (ds = 1.03, 0.86) and clinical controls (ds = 0.64, 0.73). In CHR participants, correlations between reference and persecution and external measures were smaller than expected, though showed evidence of discriminant validity (e.g., interviewer-rated paranoia, r = 0.24). When examined in the full sample, correlation magnitude was larger and follow-up analyses indicated that reference related most specifically to paranoia (ß = 0.32), whereas persecution uniquely related to poor social functioning (ß = -0.29). CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate the reliability and validity of the RGPTS, though its scales related more weakly to severity in CHR individuals. The RGPTS may be useful in future work aiming to develop symptom-specific models of emerging paranoia in CHR individuals.