Adaptation of the Spanish version of the Frontal Assessment Battery for detection of executive dysfunction

Background: The Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) evaluates executive dysfunctions; however, there is no culturally adapted version of this instrument for the Spanish population. The aim of this study was the translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the original version of the FAB into Spanish and to pilot test this version.MethodsThe cross-cultural adaptation was conducted following standard procedures. The final Spanish version of the FAB (FAB-E) was pilot tested with 19 healthy Spanish individuals. Total and subtest FAB-E scores were analysed to verify that the test could be understood and that the items assessed what they were intended to assess.ResultsThe FAB-E revealed that items/instructions were culturally appropriate and written clearly. Pilot testing showed that most of the participants had scores ranging between 2 and 3 points in all the items. The mean of the total FAB-E was 15.8 (SD=1.3) and the values ranged from 13 to 18. Age and educational level seemed to indicate differences in FAB-E scores.ConclusionOur findings support that the FAB-E can be used to screen for executive dysfunctions in a Spanish-speaking population. (AU)

Antecedentes: El Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) evalúa disfunciones ejecutivas; sin embargo, no existe una versión culturalmente adaptada del instrumento a la población española. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo traducir y adaptar culturalmente al español la versión original del FAB y realizar un estudio piloto de esta versión.MétodosSe utilizaron procedimientos estandarizados para la adaptación cultural. La versión final del FAB (FAB-E) fue testada con 19 sujetos sanos españoles. La puntuación total y de las subescalas del FAB-E se analizaron para comprobar su comp,rensión y verificar que los ítems evaluaban lo que tenían que evaluar.ResultadosLos ítems/instrucciones del FAB-E fueron adecuados culturalmente y escritos con claridad. En el estudio piloto la mayoría de los participantes tuvieron puntuaciones entre 2 y 3 en todos los ítems. La media del FAB-E total fue 158 (DE=1.3) y los valores oscilaron entre 13 y 18. La edad y el nivel educativo parecieron indicar diferencias en las puntuaciones del FAB-E.ConclusiónNuestros resultados avalan que el FAB-E puede ser utilizado para examinar disfunciones ejecutivas en la población hispanohablante. (AU)

Adaptation of the Spanish version of the Frontal Assessment Battery for detection of executive dysfunction.

BACKGROUND: The Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) evaluates executive dysfunctions; however, there is no culturally adapted version of this instrument for the Spanish population. The aim of this study was the translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the original version of the FAB into Spanish and to pilot test this version. METHODS: The cross-cultural adaptation was conducted following standard procedures. The final Spanish version of the FAB (FAB-E) was pilot tested with 19 healthy Spanish individuals. Total and subtest FAB-E scores were analysed to verify that the test could be understood and that the items assessed what they were intended to assess. RESULTS: The FAB-E revealed that items/instructions were culturally appropriate and written clearly. Pilot testing showed that most of the participants had scores ranging between 2 and 3 points in all the items. The mean of the total FAB-E was 15.8 (SD=1.3) and the values ranged from 13 to 18. Age and educational level seemed to indicate differences in FAB-E scores. CONCLUSION: Our findings support that the FAB-E can be used to screen for executive dysfunctions in a Spanish-speaking population.

Measuring executive dysfunction in Parkinson's disease: Reliability and validity of the Spanish version of Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB-E).

BACKGROUND: Deficits in executive functions (EFs) are frequently detected in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). The Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) is a screening test for assessing EFs although it has not been so far adapted and validated in Spain. We evaluated the reliability and validity of the Spanish version of the FAB (FAB-E) in PD patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our study included 54 healthy subjects and 67 PD patients. Cognitive assessment of participants was conducted using the FAB-E, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Trail Making Test (TMT), Revised-Barcelona Test (RBT) and Executive Interview (EXIT-25). Internal consistency, intra- and test-retest reliabilities, concurrent and discriminant validity of the FAB-E were examined. To evaluate the influence of cognitive dysfunction in PD on the performance of the FAB-E, we also classified the PD patients into groups according to their cognitive status as measured by the MMSE using published criteria to identify cognitive deficits in PD. RESULTS: The FAB-E showed good internal consistency (α = 0.751). The intraclass correlation coefficients (ranging from 0.559 to 0.891) and Spearman correlations (from 0.494 to 0.864) of the FAB-E subtests indicated a good-strong reliability. The total and subtest scores generally showed a good concurrent validity, except for the prehension behaviour item of the FAB-E and the Interference and Go/no-go tasks of the EXIT-25 that presented low estimates. Excluding the prehension behaviour subtest, the performance of the FAB-E was higher in the control group than in PD patients. Cognitive dysfunction in PD patients also indicated significant poorer FAB-E scores excepting the motor and prehension behaviour subtests. Discriminant analysis determined a cut-off of 14.5 was optimal to differentiate healthy subjects from PD patients. Moreover, a cut-off <12.5 allocated satisfactorily those PD patients with cognitive impairment (MMSE<26) and scores <11.5 classified suitably those PD patients with dementia (MMSE<24). CONCLUSION: The FAB-E is an accurate tool for evaluating EFs in patients with PD and can provide useful information for distinguishing PD patients with and without cognitive dysfunction at a bedside assessment.

Afrontamiento y trastornos de la conducta alimentaria: un estudio de revisión / Coping and eating disorders: A review

Se describen las estrategias de afrontamiento que utilizan las pacientes con TCA, y su relación con otras variables psicosociales, valorando sus efectos sobre la salud. Se revisaron losestudios empíricos sobre afrontamiento y variables psicosociales y clínicas en los TCA en los últimos 20 años, utilizando las bases de datos: Psyclit, Medline, Psicodoc, IME e ISOC,combinando por pares el descriptor de afrontamiento con los seleccionados para la muestra de estudio. Los resultados sugieren que estas pacientes utilizan estrategias evitativas y centradas en la emoción, y en menor medida estrategias aproximativas y centradas en el problema. Estetipo de afrontamiento también es característico de las mujeres con mayor riesgo para desarrollar el trastorno. Las estrategias evitativas y centradas en la emoción se relacionan en estas pacientes con una peor adaptación psicosocial, mientras que las aproximativas y centradas en elproblema, lo hacen en sentido contrario.

We reviewed the role of coping in eating disorders, and the relation of this concept with other psychosocial variables. We reviewed the empirical studies published in the last 20 years about coping and psychosocial and clinical variables in eating disorders using Psyclit, Medline, Psicodoc, IME and ISOC. The results suggest that eating disorders patients make more use of avoidance and emotion oriented coping, and are less likely to respond with active attempts to solve or problem-oriented coping mechanism, than subjects without the disorder. This type of coping is also more frequently used by women with higher tendency to develop an eating disorder. Avoidance and emotion-oriented coping are associated with poorer psychosocialadaptation, whereas active and problem-oriented coping are associated with better health outcomes in these patients.