Development and validation of three brief versions of the humor styles questionnaire.

The Humor Styles Questionnaire (HSQ) is a frequently applied measure of individual differences in humor usage. However, previous research found several of its items to be unreliable and to provide insufficient information. Its 32-item length may also hinder its application in contexts in which short measures are required to maintain participant motivation, for instance large-scale assessments. In the present paper, we present three brief versions with five, four, and three items per subscale respectively, avoiding the questionable items. The results showed that the factor structure, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability of the original HSQ and the developed brief versions were as expected. Relations between the brief versions and psychological constructs (e.g., self-esteem, well-being, aggression, Big Five) were similar to the original HSQ. The findings support the psychometrical soundness and validity of three brief versions of the HSQ comparable to the original long version. General challenges in the assessment of humor are discussed.

The Association of Psychosocial Manifestations and Quality of Life With Inflammatory Markers in SARS-CoV-2 Patients: A Study From a Dedicated COVID-19 Tertiary Care Hospital.

AIM: The second wave of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic adversely affected an individual's physical and psychological well-being. Events such as nationwide lockdown, isolation, social distancing, loss of jobs, and mortality among close contacts and the neighborhood had a dreadful impact on the psychological well-being of the population. At the time of conducting the present study, limited literature was available on the psychosocial manifestations of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in the Indian population. Hence, the present study was conducted to find out the association between depression, anxiety, stress, and quality of life with inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), D-dimer, serum ferritin, procalcitonin (PCT) in SARS-CoV-2 patients during admission and follow-up in a tertiary care hospital. METHODS: This was an observational analytical study conducted during the second wave of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic at a designated COVID-19 tertiary care hospital in New Delhi, India. Guidelines provided by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; the Government of India, were used for deciding hospital admissions. Sixty patients, confirmed positive by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for SARS-CoV-2, aged 18-60 years, were recruited for this study. All study subjects were screened by a rating scale for which the Hindi version of the 21-item Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) questionnaire was employed, and the Hindi version of the 26-item World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF) was used to assess the quality of life. Special investigations like CRP, IL-6, D-dimer, serum ferritin, and PCT were sent on day one of admission. RESULTS: The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress was 63.3%, 85%, and 26.7%, respectively. The mean D-dimer level was found to be 957.32 ± 650.91 ng/ml, mean pro-calcitonin level was 1.04 ± 1.47 ng/ml, mean serum ferritin level was 722.24 ± 486.75 µg/L, mean CRP level was 65.36 ± 35.12 mg/L, and mean IL-6 level was 62.79 ± 49.05 pg/ml. The average score for the physical domain of the WHOQOL-BREF on days 7, 14, and 28 were 66.23, 77.43, and 82.18, respectively. The average score for the psychological domain on days 7, 14, and 28 were 73.93, 78.33, and 86.21, respectively. The average score for social domain on days 7, 14, and 28 were 82.63, 86.38, and 89.73, respectively. The average score for the environmental domain on days 7, 14, and 28 were 78.33, 88.78, and 90.98, respectively. The prevalence and severity of depression were significantly associated with D-dimer, CRP, ferritin, PCT, and Interleukin-6 (p<0.05). The prevalence and severity of anxiety were significantly associated with PCT, IL-6, and CRP (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: SARS-CoV-2 infection adversely affected our study population's mental well-being. An increased prevalence of psychosocial manifestations like depression, anxiety, and stress was noted in participants. We also concluded that increased levels of inflammatory markers (CRP, IL-6, PCT, D-dimer, and serum ferritin) were associated with increased prevalence of psychiatric manifestations like depression.

DERSR-B. A Brief Scale for Detection of Emotional Dysregulation Risk / DERSR-B. Una Escala Breve para la Detección del Riesgo de Desregulación Emocional

Abstract Emotional dysregulation (ED) is related to problems in understanding, perceiving, and regulating emotions. The aim is to find the psychometric properties of an instrument that measures ED and classifies the high/low ED group membership with the least possible error. For statistical purposes (factor analysis), two independent samples of males and females (n1 = 476) and (n2 = 562) were obtained, with ages sample 1 (15 -19 years; M= 15.8; SD=0.71) and sample 2 (15-19 years; M=15.6; SD= 0.69). Three factors were formed by sex, males with 14 items and females with 13 items, each loading on a single factor (total α=0.71 - 0.78 ɷ =0.67- 0.79 females; α= 0.70 - 0.79 ɷ=0.73 - 0.75 males) and good fit indices. In sum, a validated cut version instrument (DERSR-B), a risk screening instrument, was obtained.

Resumen La desregulación emocional (DE) se relaciona con problemas para comprender, percibir y regular las emociones. Determinar las propiedades psicométricas de un instrumento que mide DE y que clasifica con el menor error posible la pertenencia de grupo alto/bajo de DE se propuso como el objetivo de este estudio. Para propósitos estadísticos (análisis factoriales) se obtuvieron dos muestras independientes de hombres y mujeres (n1 = 476) y (n2 = 562) respectivamente, con edades para muestra 1 (15-19 años; M= 15.8; DE= 0.71) y muestra 2 (15-19 años; M=15.6; DE= 0.69). Se obtuvieron tres factores por sexo, hombres con 14 ítems y mujeres con 13 ítems cada uno cargando en un solo, un único factor (total α =0.71 - 0.78 ɷ =0.67- 0.79 mujeres; α=0.70 - 0.79 ɷ=0.73-0.75 hombres) y con índices de ajuste aceptables. Se obtuvo un instrumento válido en versión corta de detección rápida de riesgo de Desregulación Emocional (DERSR-B).

"Green et al. Paranoid Thoughts Scale-revised": Structural invariance and clinical utility of a brief version in schizophrenia.

OBJECTIVE: Persecutory ideas are highly frequent in psychotic disorders and particularly in schizophrenia. Although several measures exist to assess persecutory ideas in both clinical and non-clinical samples, there is a need for brief and psychometrically sound measures to capture the multidimensional aspects of paranoia in people diagnosed with schizophrenia. Our aim was to validate a brief version of the revised Green et al., Paranoid Thoughts Scale (R-GPTS) in schizophrenia in order to minimize time-consuming assessment. METHODS: 100 individuals with schizophrenia and 72 non-clinical controls were recruited. We used the GPTS-8, a brief 8-item version of the R-GPTS recently developed and validated in the French general population. Psychometric properties of the scale were investigated including its factor structure, internal consistency, and convergent/divergent validities. RESULTS: Confirmatory factor analysis supported the original two-factor structure (social reference and persecution subscales) of the GPTS-8. The GPTS-8 was positively and moderately correlated with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) suspiciousness item indicating good internal consistency. Concerning divergent validity, no correlations were found between the GPTS-8 and the Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA). Importantly patients with schizophrenia reported higher scores on the GTPS-8 than controls demonstrating its clinical validity. CONCLUSIONS: The French GPTS 8-item brief scale-8 retains the psychometric strengths of the R-GPTS in schizophrenia with relevant clinical validity. The GPTS-8 can consequently be used as a short and quick measure of paranoid ideations in individuals with a diagnosis of schizophrenia.

Mental Health and the COVID-19 Pandemic: Observational Evidence from Malaysia.

The interplay of physical, social, and economic factors during the pandemic adversely affected the mental health of healthy people and exacerbated pre-existing mental disorders. This study aimed to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of the general population in Malaysia. A cross-sectional study involving 1246 participants was conducted. A validated questionnaire consisting of the level of knowledge and practice of precautionary behaviors, the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales (DASS), and the World Health Organization Quality of Life-Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF) was used as an instrument to assess the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Results revealed that most participants possessed a high level of knowledge about COVID-19 and practiced wearing face masks daily as a precautionary measure. The average DASS scores were beyond the mild to moderate cut-off point for all three domains. The present study found that prolonged lockdowns had significantly impacted (p < 0.05), the mental health of the general population in Malaysia, reducing quality of life during the pandemic. Employment status, financial instability, and low annual incomes appeared to be risk factors (p < 0.05) contributing to mental distress, while older age played a protective role (p < 0.05). This is the first large-scale study in Malaysia to assess the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the general population.

Risk Factors Associated With Falls and Fall-Related Injuries Among Wheelchair Users With Spinal Cord Injury.

Objective: To identify risk factors for falls and fall-related injuries for wheelchair users with spinal cord injury (SCI). Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Community setting. Participants: Fifty-nine community dwelling wheelchair users (N=59), 47.5% male, median age of 52.5 years (IQR, 21 years) with chronic SCI, median time since injury of 16.6 years (IQR, 27.3 years). Interventions: No intervention. Main Outcome Measures: Outcomes were incidence of falls and fall-related injuries. Participants reported on falls and fall-related injuries experienced in the previous 6 months. Independent variables were self-reported and performance-based measures. Self-reported measures included demographics, characteristics of SCI, fear of falling, psychological measures, functional independence, wheelchair skills, environmental barriers, quality of life, and community participation. Performance-based measures included transfer quality and sitting balance assessments. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify factors influencing falls and fall-related injuries. Results: In total, 152 falls and 30 fall-related injuries were reported from a total of 37 fallers. After logistic regression analysis, the model with the greatest levels of clinical utility and discriminative ability for falls (sensitivity 81%; specificity 55%; area under the receiving operating characteristic curve [AUC] statistics=0.73; 95% CI, 0.60-0.86) included the variables of shorter time since SCI, high mobility level, and having received education on fall prevention. The model for fall-related injuries (sensitivity 79%; specificity 75%; AUC statistics=0.77; 95% CI, 0.59-0.96) included the variables of older male individual, lower physical health score, and having received education on fall prevention. Conclusions: The regression models presented may be used to identify wheelchair users with SCI at greater risk of falls and fall-related injuries. The findings may help to refer those in need to tailored fall and fall-related injury prevention programs. The findings presented in this study were based on a relatively small sample convenience; therefore, further prospective studies with a larger sample size are warranted.

Early detection of anxiety problems in childhood: Spanish validation of the brief Spence Children's Anxiety Scale for parents.

The small percentage of children with anxiety problems who receive psychological treatment, and the negative psychological consequences associated with these problems highlight the need for early detection. Although assessment instruments with appropriate measurement properties exist, they tend to be extensive, making it difficult to apply them in clinical settings, schools, or primary care practices. This study aimed to adapt the Spanish brief version for parents of the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale (SCAS-P-8). For this purpose, information on 215 children between 8 and 12 years of age was reported by 163 parents. The Spanish version of the SCAS-P-8 adequately fit a one-factor structure, χ2 = 44.25; df = 19; comparative fit index = .97; Tucker-Lewis index = .96; root mean square error of approximation: .07 (.04, .09); standardized root mean squared residual = .08. Evidence of internal consistency of the total SCAS-P-8 score was good (α = 0.82), and the direct correlations obtained between the SCAS-P-8 and internalizing problems showed evidence of convergent validity. Moreover, the appropriate measurement properties of the SCAS-P-8 were shown to be independent of gender. Differences in sociodemographic variables and SDQ-P between children with anxiety symptoms and those without anxiety symptoms were also discussed. Information reported by parents can help the clinician carry out an accurate diagnosis. A brief assessment scale can be easily applied in schools or primary care settings.

Validation of the brief version of the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale for Spanish children (SCAS-C-8).

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to validate the self-reported brief version of the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale-Children (SCAS-C-8) in pre-adolescent Spanish children. METHOD: Participants were 824 children aged 8-12 from a community sample. The results revealed a good fit to the one-factor structure, adequate internal consistency (α = 0.75), and evidence of test-retest reliability (α = 0.77). RESULTS: The strong relationship between the SCAS-C-8 and emotional problems provided evidence of convergent validity. Also, the results showed factorial gender invariance. CONCLUSION: The SCAS-C-8 is a suitable instrument for pre-adolescent Spanish children. The brevity and simplicity of this scale may facilitate early detection and help to narrow the existent gap between the presence of anxiety problems and psychological assistance-seeking.

Evidências preliminares de validade de versão reduzida da escala de compra por impulso de Rook e Fisher / Preliminary Evidence of Validity of the Reduced Version of Rook and Fisher's Impulse Buying Scale

Resumo Introdução: A redução de escalas visa a redução da quantidade de itens, mantendo-se suas qualidades psicométricas. O presente estudo teve como objetivo a redução da versão brasileira da escala de compra por impulso de Rook e Fisher. Método: Participaram do estudo 1173 brasileiros, sendo 868 mulheres e 305 homens com a média de idade de 24.8 anos e desvio-padrão de 12.7. Todos os participantes foram contatados via redes sociais ou e-mail. A pesquisa foi dividida em três estudos. Resultados: No primeiro estudo, a estrutura unifatorial do instrumento foi corroborada, uma vez que a análise paralela sugeriu a retenção de um fator e os índices de ajuste foram acima de .95. Foram selecionados quatro itens para comporem a versão reduzida. O segundo estudo analisou a estrutura interna e as cargas fatoriais da escala reduzida por meio da análise fatorial exploratória e da análise fatorial confirmatória. Os resultados da análise fatorial exploratória foram semelhantes aos do estudo 1 e a análise fatorial confirmatória também apresentou índices de ajuste acima de .90. No terceiro estudo foram realizadas correlações para verificar o grau de diferença das correlações entre a escala reduzida e a original. Foram obtidas evidências de validade preditiva com as escalas de materialismo, consumo de status e propensão ao endividamento. Ainda, realizou-se uma análise fatorial confirmatória multigrupo que verificou a invariância do instrumento entre homens e mulheres. Conclusão: Conclui-se que a escala reduzida de compra por impulso, 4-CI, é considerada adequada para a mensuração desse construto.

Abstract Introduction: Scale reduction aims the reduction of the number of the items maintaining its psychometric properties. The goal of this study was to reduce the Brazilian version of Rook and Fisher's impulsive buying scale. Method: Participants were 1173 Brazilians, in which 868 were women and 305 were men with mean of age of 24.8 years old and a standard deviation of 12.7. All participants were recruited via social media or e-mail. The research was split in three. Results: In the first study, the unifactorial structure was supported, once the parallel analysis suggested the retention of one factor, and the fit indexes were superior to .95. Four items were selected to form the reduced version. The second study analyzed the internal structure and the factorial loadings of the reduced scale through exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis. The results from the exploratory factor analysis were similar to those of study 1 and the confirmatory factor analysis also showed fit indexes above .90. In the third study, correlation analysis were run to verify the disparities between the reduced and the original scale. Predictive validity evidence was gathered with the materialism, consumption by status, and propension to indebtedness. Still, a multigroup confirmatory factor analysis verified the instrument invariance between men and women. Conclusion: It is concluded that the reduced impulsive buying scale, 4-CI, is considered adequate to the measurement of this construct.

Validation study of the Spanish brief version of TEMPS-A.

INTRODUCTION: Identifying affective temperaments could be useful both for understanding the normal behavioral variations in the general population and to establish if there is a clinical predisposition to certain disorders. Five affective temperaments have been proposed: depressive, cyclothymic, hyperthymic, irritable and anxious. Original instrument for measuring them (TEMPS-A) is a 110-item scale but many short versions in different languages have been validated. The aim of this study was to obtain a short self-administered Spanish version of TEMPS-A with good psychometric properties. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A sample of 550 students who answered the argentinean version of TEMPS-A was included, after psychometric analysis a comparison between inpatients with major depression and their matched controls by sex and age who answered the brief version was performed to get an external validation. RESULTS: The sample was composed by 298 (54.2%) women. The mean age was 23.3 year (SD=6.2). A forced five factor analysis was performed. The 7 items with the highest factorial load (more than 0.350) for each subscale were included in the brief version. The Cronbach alpha's ranged from 0.690 to .800. The most prevalent temperament was hyperthymic followed by cyclothymic for students sample. Similarities between students and controls sample were observed, but not with patients with major depression. CONCLUSIONS: This brief Spanish version of TEMPS-A (35 items) has good psychometric properties and can be used in general and clinical population.

Validation of the Brief Version of the Cancer Behavior Inventory in Breast Cancer Portuguese Patients.

Self-efficacy is a coping resource with a positive impact on well-being, quality of life, anxiety, and depression in cancer patients, even after treatment. This study focused on the validation of the Cancer Behavior Inventory-Brief Version (CBI-B) in Portuguese patients with breast cancer. The study included 115 patients with breast cancer receiving outpatient chemotherapy in four hospitals located in Portugal. Participants (N = 115) completed the translated version of the CBI-B in Portuguese and measures of quality of life (QLQ- C30), psychological distress (HADS), and illness perceptions (IPQ-B). Confirmatory factor analysis supported the four-factor original structure of the CBI-B. The Portuguese version of the CBI-B showed good psychometric properties as shown by measures of internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = .88), test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient = .59), convergent validity with the QLQ-C30 (r = .43, p < .001), and divergent validity with the HADS (r = -.60, p < .001) and the IPQ-B (r = -.51, p < .001). The Portuguese version of the CBI-B is a valid and reliable instrument to evaluate the self-efficacy for coping in Portuguese breast cancer patients. Future studies should validate the CBI-B in patients with other types of cancer.

Study design for a randomized clinical trial of cognitive-behavioral therapy for posttraumatic headache.

Posttraumatic headache (PTH) is a common debilitating condition arising from head injury and is highly prevalent among military service members and veterans with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Diagnosis and treatment for PTH is still evolving, and surprisingly little is known about the putative mechanisms that drive these headaches. This manuscript describes the design of a randomized clinical trial of two nonpharmacological (i.e., behavioral) interventions for posttraumatic headache. Design of this trial required careful consideration of PTH diagnosis and inclusion criteria, which was challenging due to the lack of standard clinical characteristics in PTH unique from other types of headaches. The treatments under study differed in clinical focus and dose (i.e., number of treatment sessions), but the trial was designed to balance the treatments as well as possible. Finally, while the primary endpoints for pain research can vary from assessments of pain intensity to objective and subjective functional measures, this trial of PTH interventions chose carefully to establish clinically relevant endpoints and to maximize the opportunity to detect significant differences between groups with two primary outcomes. All these issues are discussed in this manuscript.

Development and validation of a 6-item Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale (RULS-6) using Rasch analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The UCLA Loneliness Scale, containing 20 items, is one of the commonly used loneliness scales. Some shorter versions have been developed using factor analysis. The study aimed to shorten the UCLA Loneliness Scale using Rasch and factor analysis methods and test the psychometric properties of the new scale. METHODS: The full sample of the study included 719 respondents, divided into three subsamples (205, 324, and 190 for samples 1-3, respectively). The original, 20-item Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale (R-ULS) was shortened using 205 students (sample 1); the shortened scale was then validated for construct and concurrent validity with 324 students (sample 2) and 190 clinical participants (sample 3). Confirmatory factor analysis and Rasch analysis were used for construct validity. Convergent, discriminant, and concurrent validity were assessed by exploring the correlation with other psychological measurements. RESULTS: In sample 1, the R-ULS was shortened to a 6-item scale (RULS-6) that fits the Rasch model. The RULS-6 met the criteria of unidimensionality and local independence without differential item functioning due to age and sex, and good targeting the clinical sample. Person Separation Index (PSI) reflected that reliability from the Rasch perspective was acceptable. However, collapsing categories 2 (sometime) and 3 (rarely) may be required in a clinical sample. When tested in samples 2 and 3, the RULS-6 fits the Rasch measurement model. Convergent and discriminant validity were demonstrated with interpersonal problems and attachment scales. As expected, a positive correlation was found between RULS-6 and anxiety, depression subscale, interpersonal difficulties, and somatization subscales denoting concurrent validity. Cronbach's alpha of the RULS-6 was good (.83). CONCLUSION: Using Rasch analysis, the proposed RULS-6 constituted a 70% reduction of the number of original items, yet preserved the psychometric properties in independent samples of students and psychiatric outpatients. Statement of contribution What is already known on this subject? The UCLA Loneliness Scale is a common instrument used to gauge loneliness levels. The 20-item revised scale (R-ULS) has acceptable psychometric properties but its construct varies. Due to the length of the questionnaire, administration of R-ULS is not always practical. Short versions vary in items and were developed with classic test theory (e.g., factor analysis). Rasch analysis - providing more accuracy based on measurement theory - could be used instead. What does this study add? Using a Rasch analysis approach, a 6-item scale of loneliness (RULS-6) was created. The RULS-6 was tested in student and clinical samples, meeting Rasch measurement model criteria. The RULS-6 showed promising psychometrics to be used in both non-clinical and clinical samples.

Short versions of two specific phobia measures: The snake and the spider questionnaires.

Zoophobias are the most prevalent form of specific phobia worldwide. Two of the most widely used measures, the Snake Questionnaire (SNAQ) and Spider Questionnaire (SPQ) are good indicators of specific fears, but researchers have recognised that shorter, yet nevertheless reliable measures are needed. Hence the aims of this research were to develop short forms of the SNAQ and SPQ using item response theory and to use receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses to determine cut-offs for use in future research. Twelve-item versions of both scales (SNAQ-12 and SPQ-12) demonstrated excellent discrimination along the latent continuum in a sample of 1354 people. The SNAQ-12 and SPQ-12 showed excellent reliability and were highly correlated with the corresponding full-length scale. The scales discriminated between participants who reported snake (3.25%) or spider (8.05%) phobia and those who did not. Further analyses revealed that non-phobic women report higher fear of both snakes and spiders than do men, but this difference was not present in phobics. These findings suggest that the SNAQ-12 and SPQ-12 have considerable strengths, including shorter assessment and scoring times, whilst retaining high reliability and potential utility as a clinical screening tool.

Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Psychometric Evaluation of the Turkish Version of the Cancer Behavior Inventory-Brief Version.

CONTEXT: Cancer Behavior Inventory-Brief Version (CBI-B) is a simple and non-burdensome tool used to evaluate the self-efficacy of the cancer patients. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the CBI-B. METHODS: This methodologic study was conducted on 143 cancer patients who received radiotherapy at the Department of Radiation Oncology at a Training and Research Hospital in Turkey. Data were collected using Medical and Demographic Information Form, CBI-B, Satisfaction With Life Scale, and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Core Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30). Descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analysis, and correlation coefficients were used for the analysis of data. RESULTS: Exploratory factor analysis confirmed four-factor structure explaining 74.7% of the total variance: 1) Maintaining Independence and Positive Attitude, 2) Participating in Medical Care, 3) Coping and Stress Management, and 4) Managing Affect. The CBI-B had acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach α = 0.87) and test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.961) and concurrent validity with Satisfaction With Life Scale and EORTC QLQ-C30 scores. The measures of life satisfaction and quality of life were positively correlated with CBI-B, whereas the symptom levels and the functions (with the exception of the role function) were negatively correlated. CONCLUSION: The CBI-B was found to be a valid and reliable inventory for assessing the self-efficacy of Turkish cancer patients. The CBI-B, is a simple and brief measure of self-efficacy for coping with cancer, could be easily used in clinical and research settings.

From Research to Clinical Settings: Validation of the Affect in Play Scale - Preschool Brief Version in a Sample of Preschool and School Aged Italian Children.

Affect in Play Scale-Preschool (APS-P) is one of the few standardized tools to measure pretend play. APS-P is an effective measure of symbolic play, able to detect both cognitive and affective dimensions which classically designated play in children, but often are evaluated separately and are scarcely integrated. The scale uses 5 min standardized play task with a set of toys. Recently the scale was extended from 6 to 10 years old and validated in Italy preschool and school-aged children. Some of the main limitations of this measure are that it requires videotaping, verbatim transcripts, and an extensive scoring training, which could compromise its clinical utility. For these reasons, a Brief version of the measure was developed by the original authors. This paper will focus on an APS-P Brief Version and its Extended Version through ages (6-10 years), which consists "in vivo" coding. This study aimed to evaluate construct and external validity of this APS-P Brief Version and its Extended Version in a sample of 538 Italian children aged 4-to-10 years. Confirmatory factor analysis yielded a two correlated factor structure including an affective and a cognitive factor. APS-P-BR and its Extended Version factor scores strongly related to APS-P Extended Version factor scores. Significant relationships were found with a divergent thinking task. Results suggest that the APS-P-BR and its Extended Version is an encouraging brief measure assessing pretend play using toys. It would easily substitute the APS-P and its Extended Version in clinical and research settings, reducing time and difficulties in scoring procedures and maintaining the same strengths.

Validation of the English and French versions of the Brief Health Care Climate Questionnaire.

Patient autonomy is a central value in medicine and critical component of adherence to medical advice. This article reports on a validation of the 6-item version of the Health Care Climate Questionnaire (HCCQ), a measure of autonomy support in health care settings, in a sample of 242 melanoma patients. The HCCQ showed excellent internal consistency (α = .91), structural validity (Tucker-Lewis index = .99; comparative fit index = .99; root mean square error of approximation = .06, 90 per cent confidence interval (.00, .11); standardized root mean square residual = .02; χ2 (8, N = 235) = 13.99, p = .08) and construct validity (92.31% of hypothesized correlations with other measures confirmed). Acceptable 3-month test-retest reliability was observed (r = .55, p < .001; intraclass correlation coefficient (A, 1) = .54, p < .001). The French version was found equivalent to the English version.

Goal pursuit and goal adjustment as predictors of disability and quality of life among individuals with a lower limb amputation: a prospective study.

OBJECTIVE: (1) To identify significant changes in disability and quality of life (QOL) across 3 time points (t1: admission to rehabilitation; t2: 6wk postdischarge; t3: 6mo postdischarge) in individuals with lower limb amputation, and (2) to examine whether goal pursuit and goal adjustment at t1 were predictive of these outcomes at t3. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Inpatient rehabilitation. PARTICIPANTS: Consecutive sample of persons (N=64) aged ≥18 years with major lower limb amputation. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0) and World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF). RESULTS: Mean WHODAS 2.0 scores were in the 95th percentile at each time point. Scores on the WHODAS 2.0 and the physical, psychological, and social relations domains of the WHOQOL-BREF remained stable across the study period. Environmental QOL scores decreased from t1 to t2 but returned to near-baseline levels between t2 and t3. Having a greater tendency toward goal pursuit at t1 was predictive of higher physical and psychological QOL at t3, whereas having a stronger disposition toward goal adjustment at t1 predicted lower disability and higher environmental QOL at t3. CONCLUSIONS: High levels of disability were experienced from admission to rehabilitation up to 6 months postdischarge. QOL in the physical, psychological, and social relations domains remained stable over the study period. Stronger goal pursuit and goal adjustment tendencies on admission predicted lower disability and higher QOL 6 months postdischarge.

Social relationship and health among students with low social desirability.

INTRODUCTION: This survey aimed to probe the associations between altruism, social support and subjective health among incoming students with low level of social desirability. METHODS: Totally, 5,634 incoming university students were assessed and 2,472 students with a low tendency toward social desirability were recruited for analysis. RESULTS: The results indicated that altruism and perceived social support were correlated and both could predict subjective health simultaneously. Path analysis indicated that altruism may promote health directly and indirectly by social support. DISCUSSION: Developing curriculums to enhance altruism and social support could be an important issue for university students.

Identifying youth at risk for psychosis using the Behavior Assessment System for Children, Second Edition.

Identification of youth at risk for or with early psychosis has become the focus of many research and clinical initiatives, as early intervention may be linked to better long-term outcomes. Efforts to facilitate identification have led to the development of several self-report instruments that intend to quickly assess "attenuated" psychosis, potentially screening people for further evaluation. The widely used Behavior Assessment System for Children, Second Edition (BASC-2) includes the atypicality scale, a scale that may be useful for risk screening as it is designed to recognize emerging symptoms of psychosis. The current study aimed to evaluate the utility of the BASC-2 for identifying youth at high clinical risk or with early psychosis within a sample of 70 help-seeking participants aged 12-22. Atypicality scores were compared to risk status (low-risk, high-risk or early psychosis) as determined by the clinician-administered Structured Interview for Psychosis-Risk Syndromes (SIPS). The relative accuracy of the atypicality scale was evaluated against three self-report screeners specifically designed to identify this population. Results indicate that the BASC-2 atypicality scale may be a useful tool for identifying youth in early stages of psychosis. Moreover, the atypicality scale is comparable if not superior to other specialized risk screening instruments in terms of predictive ability. Given the widespread use of the BASC-2 across educational and mental health settings, evidence for convergent validity between the BASC-2 atypicality scale and SIPS diagnoses has the potential to make screening available to a greater population and facilitate earlier detection and intervention.