A validity study of functionally-based behavioral consultation with students with emotional/behavioral disabilities.

Eighteen students (K-11th grade) with emotional/behavioral disorders who were at-risk for change of placement to more restrictive settings participated. Construct validity of functional behavioral assessment (FBA) was assessed with a multifunction-multimethod matrix that showed excellent convergent and divergent agreement with combined FBA methods and functional analysis results. Treatment validity was assessed with random assignment to either a FBA with consultation condition (FBC) or to a behavioral consultation without FBA condition (BC). Growth curve analysis showed a significant decrease in inappropriate behavior from baseline to treatment for both treatment groups compared to a control group. The efficiency of teachers' implementation effected treatment validity. Effect sizes showed that regardless of treatment condition that interventions with good fidelity realized the largest effect (d = -1.14). Social and habilitative validity was assessed with telephone interviews conducted a year after treatment. Sixty-five percent attributed the students' problem behaviors to their thoughts or feelings, whereas only 25% attributed it to classroom variables. Many (57%) indicated the most helpful intervention would be individual counseling, whereas only 14% indicated a more involved classroom management plan would be useful. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Outpatient behavioral treatment for cocaine dependence: One-year outcome.

This article describes outcomes observed during the year after treatment entry from two controlled trials in which cocaine-dependent outpatients were randomly assigned to either a multicomponent behavioral treatment or to one of two control treatments. The behavioral treatment integrated the community reinforcement approach (CRA) with an incentive program in which cocaine abstinence was reinforced with vouchers exchangeable for retail items. The two control treatments were drug abuse counseling and CRA without the incentive program. All treatment groups improved significantly compared to intake, and those changes were maintained through the follow-up period. When efficacy differences were observed during treatment and follow-up, they supported CRA with vouchers over control treatments. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Motivational subtypes and continuous measures of readiness for change: Concurrent and predictive validity.

This study compared the concurrent and predictive validity of motivational subtypes versus a continuous measure of readiness for change as measured by the University of Rhode Island Change Assessment Scale (URICA; E. A. McConnaughy, J. O. Prochaska. & W. F. Velicer, 1983) in 252 individuals participating in a substance abuse treatment study (38% female; mean age = 36). Hierarchical cluster analysis identified a 2-cluster solution. Consistent with previous research, both the motivational subtypes and the continuous readiness measure exhibited good concurrent validity with both baseline characteristics and change process variables. Neither readiness-for-change measure predicted end treatment outcomes. Measures of readiness for change based on the URICA exhibit limited clinical utility, because they are not able to predict future behavior. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Personality disorder subtypes among opiate addicts in methadone maintenance.

The Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory was administered to 196 men and 113 women newly admitted to methadone maintenance. The distribution of participants among Axis I subtypes was no elevation (18.8%), drug-alcohol abuse only (25.2%), affective disturbance (31.7%), and psychotic symptoms(l7.2%); among Axis II subtypes it was no elevation (10.4%), narcissistic-antisocial (36.2%), dependent (16.2%), withdrawn-negativistic (12.6%), histrionic (7.4%), and severe personality disorder (8.4%). Women were more likely to be assigned to histrionic, dependent, and severe personality disorder subtypes. Proportionately more Black participants were assigned to drug-alcohol only, psychotic symptoms, narcissistic-antisocial, and severe personality disorder subtypes. The proportion retained in treatment at 18 mo was higher for withdrawn (.51) and histrionic (.33) than other Axis II subtypes (range?=?.13–.22). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Identifying subtypes of schizophrenia by cluster analyses

The existence of two subtypes of schizophrenia (positive and negative) is well established. The evidence in favor of other subtypes, particularly a disorganized subtype, is still the subject of some debate. The aim of the study reported in this article is to investigate the possibility of further subtypes of schizophrenia by applying a particular method of cluster analysis to a particular set of data. Ward's method of cluster analysis was applied to the Positive and Negative syndrome Scale (PANSS) scores of 138 patients, defined as having schizophrenia by one of four diagnostic criteria. The validity of the cluster solution was assessed both by examining differences between clusters on a number of clinical characteristics recorded for each patient and by comparing the results obtained from the PANSS with those derived from a cluster analysis using two other instruments (the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms and the Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms). Results from the cluster analysis suggest the existence of at least four subtypes of schizophrenia: positive, negative, mixed, and disorganized. A fifth subtype includes patients with few symptoms, suggesting the simple schizophrenia named by Bleuler. Evidence for the validity of these subtypes was provided by the differences observed between the clusters on a number of clinical characteristics and by the similarity of the cluster solution obtained from the different instruments. In conclusion, the negative-positive dichotomy in schizophrenia is an oversimplification, and the existence of a more complex structure needs to be taken into account in future research.     

Subtypes of reading disability: Variability around a phonological core.

Eight measures of cognitive and language functions in 232 children were subjected to multiple methods of cluster analysis in an effort to identify subtypes of reading disability. Clustering yielded 9 reliable subtypes representing 90% of the sample, including 2 nondisabled subtypes, and 7 reading-disabled subtypes. Of the reading-disabled subtypes, 2 were globally deficient in language skills, whereas 4 of the 5 specific reading-disabled subtypes displayed a relative weakness in phonological awareness and variations in rapid serial naming and verbal short-term memory. The remaining disabled subtype was impaired on verbal and nonverbal measures associated with rate of processing, including rate and accuracy of oral reading. Studies showed evidence for discriminative validity among the 7 reading-disabled subtypes. Results support the view that children with reading disability usually display impairments on phonological awareness measures, with discriminative variability on other measures involving phonological processing, language, and cognitive skills. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Validity of a revised Jesness Inventory I-Level Classification with delinquents.

Examined the validity of a hand-scorable, mechanical procedure for deriving I-level subtypes using data from the Jesness Inventory collected by the present author in an earlier study (see record 1973-11410-001) involving institutionalized juvenile offenders. The sample comprised 1,131 delinquents tested 1966–1976 and followed for 10 yrs. Results show that 65% of Ss received a single classification, 34% a multiple (dual) classification, and 1% were unclassifiable. ANOVA showed that the subtypes differed across a variety of demographic, psychological, attitudinal, and behavioral measures. Long-term criminality was related to subtype. Regression analyses showed that the differential responses and characteristics of subtypes were not a function of differences in age, ethnicity, SES, or aptitude. Although knowledge of subtype can alert the clinician to important individual differences among delinquents, information about subtype alone is not sufficient for most assessment needs. The I-level classification provides counselors and clinicians with a means for communicating effectively and economically about clients and sorting out, distilling, and integrating the manifold bits and pieces of information about clients so as to better understand them. (22 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The brief abstinence test: Effects of continued incentive availability on cocaine abstinence.

This study compared the effects of 4 voucher incentive conditions of a brief abstinence test on continuous cocaine abstinence. In 3 conditions, cocaine-abusing methadone patients could earn $100 for 2 days of cocaine abstinence; 2 of these conditions offered, on either a continuous or interrupted schedule, an additional $300 for evidence of sustained abstinence over the next 9 days. In the 4th condition, no incentives were available. In incentive conditions, 70-80% of patients initiated abstinence, compared with 48% in the no-incentive condition. Both continuing reinforcement conditions produced higher rates of sustained abstinence than the single and no-voucher conditions. The study confirmed the utility of quantitative urine-testing methods combined with high valued incentives to promote cocaine abstinence initiation in methadone maintenance patients. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The construct validity of depressive personality disorder.

This study examined the construct validity of depressive personality disorder (DPD; American Psychiatric Association, 1994). Adult Psychiatric outpatients (N=900) underwent comprehensive Axis I and II evaluations and provided data on 4,768 of their 1st-degree relatives. Despite modest overlap, DPD was not redundant with any Axis I or II disorder. Participants with DPD exhibited more Axis I and Axis II comorbidity, and greater psychosocial dysfunction, than participants without DPD. Relatives of participants with DPD had higher rates of mood disorders, alcohol abuse, and antisocial personality. Results are consistent with findings of several other similar investigations. The authors argue that DPD is a valid construct and should be conceptualized as a personality disorder as opposed to a mood disorder. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Subtypes of alcohol-dependent men: a typology based on relative genetic and environmental loading

Using scales that distinguish between relative genetic and environmental loading, cluster analysis was used to identify three subtypes of alcohol dependence in Caucasian men from the Epidemiologic Catchment Area study (n = 911). Although all subjects met DSM-III criteria for alcohol dependence, only the severe subtype showed evidence of substantial genetic influence. When compared on a range of clinical characteristics, the mild subtype (53% of the sample) was typically least adversely affected and the severe subtype (17%) most affected, with the dyssocial subtype (30%) falling between. Severe subtype subjects had significantly greater comorbid drug dependence and were at least four times more likely than mild subjects to have sought treatment for alcohol problems. Ratio of genetic scale score to total symptom count (genetic ratio) was highest for the severe subtype (mean = 0.37), and negatively correlated with age of first alcohol problem (rs = -0.16) and years between first intoxication and first problem (rs = 0.19). No significant correlations were found between these clinical features and genetic ratio for the mild or dyssocial subtypes. Use of these scales and subtypes may improve our ability to detect specific gene effects in genetic linkage studies and to identify environmental influences in behavioral and epidemiological studies.     

Personality constellations in incarcerated psychopathic men.

Advances in the operationalization of psychopathy have led to an increased understanding of the boundaries, structure, and nomological network of this construct, although significant questions remain. The empirical identification of replicable and theoretically meaningful psychopathy subtypes may help to improve the classification and diagnosis of this condition. We conducted a classification study of 91 incarcerated men who met conventional criteria for high levels of psychopathy using the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised. We expanded on the methodology of previous research on psychopathy subtypes by utilizing a comprehensive personality assessment instrument and a prototype matching approach to classification. The analyses revealed a primary (narcissistic) subtype and a secondary (hostile and dysregulated) subtype that were broadly consistent with the previous literature. External validation analyses, statistical controls, and incremental validity analyses provided substantial support for the primary and secondary subtypes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Multimethod investigation of interpersonal functioning in borderline personality disorder.

Even though interpersonal functioning is of great clinical importance for patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD), the comparative validity of different assessment methods for interpersonal dysfunction has not yet been tested. This study examined multiple methods of assessing interpersonal functioning, including self- and other-reports, clinical ratings, electronic diaries, and social cognitions in three groups of psychiatric patients (N = 138): patients with (1) BPD, (2) another personality disorder, and (3) Axis I psychopathology only. Using dominance analysis, we examined the predictive validity of each method in detecting changes in symptom distress and social functioning 6 months later. Across multiple methods, the BPD group often reported higher interpersonal dysfunction scores compared with other groups. Predictive validity results demonstrated that self-report and electronic diary ratings were the most important predictors of distress and social functioning. Our findings suggest that self-report scores and electronic diary ratings have high clinical utility, because these methods appear most sensitive to change. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Social anxiety disorder subtypes and their mental health correlates in a nationally representative Canadian sample.

The present study aimed to assess the merit of subtyping social anxiety disorder by validating the nongeneralised subtype, differentiating the generalised and nongeneralised subtypes, and determining the role of feared social situations. Data came from the Canadian Community Health Survey Cycle 1.2 (N = 36,984) of adults aged 15 years and older. Social anxiety disorder was assessed with the World Mental Health Composite International Diagnostic Interview. In accordance with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.; DSM–IV) criteria, generalised social anxiety disorder was defined as fearing at least 7 (i.e., most) of 13 feared social situations, whereas nongeneralised social anxiety disorder as fearing 6 or fewer. Results indicated that the nongeneralised subtype was associated with increased odds of comorbid mood, anxiety, and suicidality compared with non-socially anxious adults. Conversely, the generalised subtype was not associated with increased odds of comorbid mental disorders and suicide attempts compared with the nongeneralised subtype after controlling for sociodemographic factors and other comorbid Axis I disorders. Finally, as the number of feared social situations increased, so did the odds of suffering from comorbid mood and anxiety disorders and suicidality. The present study has important implications for the DSM–5. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Subtyping children and adolescents who are overweight: Different symptomatology and treatment outcomes.

Children and adolescents who are overweight are a heterogeneous group. Whether pretreatment characteristics, such as dietary restraint and psychopathology, are related to differential treatment outcomes was not studied before. Using cluster analysis, the authors of this study examined the validity of subtyping along dietary restraint and internalizing psychopathology in 2 independent samples of treatment-seeking children and adolescents who were overweight (Study 1: n = 200; Study 2: n = 120). Three subtypes emerged: a dietary restraint/internalizing (DR/IN) group, a pure internalizing (IN) group, and a nonsymptomatic (NS) group. The DR/IN subtype showed more problems than the NS subtype, with complete consistency across the 2 studies for 1/4 of the validating variables. Although total weight change was not different across subtypes, compared with NS, the DR/IN and IN subtypes had a less positive weight prognosis during follow-up. Restraint scores only showed increases over time in the initially low-restraint IN group. These findings suggest that individual characteristics, such as degree of dietary restraint and internalizing psychopathology, can be useful in (a) classifying children and adolescents who are overweight, (b) stipulating specific treatment guidelines, and (c) making differential prognoses. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Schedule of voucher delivery influences initiation of cocaine abstinence.

This study examined whether voucher delivery arrangements affect treatment outcome. First, 90 cocaine-dependent adults were randomly assigned to behavioral counseling or counseling plus vouchers for cocaine-free urine samples. The value of each voucher was low at the beginning but increased as the patient progressed (Voucher Schedule 1). Voucher Schedule 1 produced no improvements relative to counseling only. Next, 23 patients received vouchers on either Voucher Schedule 1 or Voucher Schedule 2. Voucher Schedule 2 began with high voucher values, but requirements for earning vouchers increased as the patient progressed. Average durations of cocaine abstinence were 6.9 weeks on Voucher Schedule 2 versus 2.0 weeks on Voucher Schedule 1 (p?=?.02). This confirms that vouchers can assist in initiating abstinence and that voucher delivery arrangements are critical. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Use of the Differential Ability Scales for children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

The validity of the Differential Ability Scales (DAS) was assessed among children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and a matched control sample. The sample included 45 children with ADHD (69% with comorbidity) and 45 controls matched by age, gender, ethnicity, and parental educational level. Multivariate analysis of variance univariate test results and d ratios yielded statistically and clinically significant group differences on the Recall of Digits and Recall of Objects-Immediate diagnostic subtests. Discriminant function analyses indicated that the three Diagnostic Subtests accurately classified 67% of the sample with 69% correctly identified as controls and 64% correctly identified as ADHD. Recall of Digits was found to make the most significant contribution overall to the discriminant function. At a cutoff score of 40, Recall of Digits yielded high specificity and low sensitivity and moderate positive predictive power. Implications of results are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Genotypic characterization of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 in Greece. Multicentre Study on HIV-1 Heterogeneity

The HIV-1 subtype distribution in 83 HIV-1-seropositive individuals living in Greece was investigated by using the heteroduplex mobility assay (HMA), DNA sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis. The results revealed that partial HIV-1 gp120 sequences from 71 (86%) patients were subtype B, 5 (6%) were subtype A, 4 were subtype D (5%), 2 (2%) were subtype C, and 1 (1%) was subtype I. The subtype I isolate was documented in an intravenous drug user. A high prevalence (90-100%) of B isolates among intravenous drug users, hemophiliacs, and homosexual men was observed, in contrast to heterosexuals, among whom non-B subtypes seemed to be common (42.9%, p < 0.001). Among the Greek population subtype B is the most frequent (94%), in contrast to the high prevalence (57%) of non-B isolates found in emigrants living in Greece (p < 0.001). A heterosexual transmission case of subtype D in a Greek individual not traveling abroad was also documented. The broad HIV-1 diversity in Greece may be explained by population movements, such as migration and traveling.     

The Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Affirmative Counseling Self-Efficacy Inventory (LGB-CSI): Development, validation, and training implications.

Five studies on the development of the Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Affirmative Counseling Self-Efficacy Inventory (LGB-CSI) were conducted. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses of an initial pool of 64 items yielded 5 factors that assess counselor self-efficacy to perform lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) affirmative counseling behaviors (Application of Knowledge, Advocacy Skills, Self-Awareness, Relationship, and Assessment Skills). The LGB-CSI evidenced high internal consistency; however, low test-retest reliability was found over a 2-week period. Convergent validity was supported by correlations with measures of general counseling self-efficacy and attitudes toward LGB individuals. Discriminant validity was evidenced by an absence of relations between the LGB-CSI and measures of social desirability, self-deceptive positivity, and impression management. Construct validity was supported by findings indicating varying levels of self-efficacy commensurate with status in the field. Recommendations for training interventions are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Subtyping binge eating disorder.

Cluster-analytic studies of bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder (BED) have yielded 2 subtypes (pure dietary and mixed dietary-negative affect). The authors aimed to (a) replicate the subtyping with BED, (b) consider alternative approaches to subtyping, and (c) test the stability in individual differences in the subtyping. Cluster analyses of 101 patients revealed a dietary-negative affect subtype (33%) and a pure dietary subtype (67%). The dietary negative affect subtype was characterized by greater eating related psychopathology and psychological disturbance. Cluster analysis produced different results from alternative subtyping approaches (by major depression or by binge eating frequency). Cluster-analytic subtyping of data at 2 time points 4 weeks apart for a subset of 73 patients demonstrated significant consistency (κ=.55). Findings suggest that moderate dieting is characteristic of BED and that affective disturbances occur in a subset of cases that represent a more disturbed variant. The subtypes may represent reasonably stable individual differences. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A vocational interest scale for biologists.

A Biologist scale for the SVIB (Form M) was developed following procedures outlined by E. K. Strong, Jr. 4 groups were employed: (a) criterion (N = 251) systematically selected from Volume 2 of American Men of Science, (b) cross-validation (N = 89) selected at an American Institute of Biological Science convention, (c) 2 concurrent validation groups (Ns = 121, 306) selected from the Pennsylvania State University student body. Results indicated that the scale differentiated the interests of: (a) the biologists from Strong's men-in-general group (P1), (b) the biologists from the interests measured by 36 other SVIB scales, (c) the concurrent validation groups in the expected direction. Reliabilities of .88 (criterion) and .87 (cross-validation) were obtained. It was concluded that the scale has sufficient validity and reliability to be a useful counseling device. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)