Updating the WAIS–III and WMS–III: Considerations for research and clinical practice.

The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale–Revised (WAIS–R) and the Wechsler Memory Scale–Revised (WMS–R) are the most commonly used intelligence and memory scales in both clinical and neuropsychology. In 1997, updated versions of these instruments (the WAIS–III and WMS–III) were published. Because of the extensive use of the WAIS–R and WMS–R in the field and the body of accumulated research, there is naturally some reluctance by clinicians and researchers to update to the new versions. It is sometimes difficult for clinicians who test individuals on repeated occasions to switch over to the new versions of the scales because of the difficulty of interpreting score discrepancy between the 2 versions. Researchers, especially those conducting longitudinal research, have a similar difficulty in changing measurement devices because of the possible threat to internal validity. This article reviews the substantive revisions of the scales and outlines those issues that users should take into consideration when updating to the new versions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Development of a General Ability Index for the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale—Third Edition.

The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Third Edition (WAIS-III; D. Wechsler, 1997) permits the calculation of both traditional IQ and index scores. However, if only the subtests constituting the index scores are administered, especially those yielding the Verbal Comprehension and Perceptual Organization Indexes, there is no equivalent measure of Full Scale IQ. Following the procedure for calculating a General Ability Index (GAI; A. Prifitera, L. G. Weiss, & D. H. Saklofske, 1998) for the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children - IIIrd Edition (WISC--III) (D. Wechsler, 1991), GAI normative tables for the WAIS-III standardization sample are reported here. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A clinical trial of a financial incentive to go to the tuberculosis clinic for isoniazid after release from jail

PURPOSE: To assess the effect of insurance status on the probability of admission and subsequent health status of patients presenting to emergency departments. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We performed a prospective cohort study of patients with common medical problems at five urban, academic hospital emergency departments in Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts. The outcome measure for the study was admission to the hospital from the emergency department and functional health status at baseline and follow-up. RESULTS: During a 1-month period, 2,562 patients younger than 65 years of age presented with either abdominal pain (52%), chest pain (19%) or shortness of breath (29%). Of the 1,368 patients eligible for questionnaire, 1,162 (85%) completed baseline questionnaires, and of these, 964 (83%) completed telephone follow-up interviews 10 days later. Fifteen percent of patients were uninsured and 34% were admitted to the hospital from the emergency department. Uninsured patients were significantly less likely than insured patients to be admitted, both when adjusting for urgency, chief complaint, age, gender and hospital (odds ratio = 0.5, 95% confidence interval 0.3 to 0.7), and when additionally adjusting for comorbid conditions, lack of a regular physician, income, employment status, education and race (odds ratio = 0.4, 95% confidence interval 0.2 to 0.8). However, there were no differences in adjusted functional health status between admitted and nonadmitted patients by insurance status, either at baseline or at 10-day follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Uninsured patients with one of three common chief complaints appear to be less frequently admitted to the hospital than are insured patients, although health status does not appear to be affected. Whether these results reflect underutilization among uninsured patients or overutilization among insured patients remains to be determined.     

The relation between spirituality and quality of life among individuals with spinal cord injury.

Objective: To determine how spiritual-based coping relates to quality of life in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). Design, Setting, & Participants: A telephone interview of 75 participants, primarily Caucasian single men aged 19 to 71 (enrolled in the Northern New Jersey Spinal Cord Injury Model System). Measures: Ellison's Spiritual Well-Being Scale, Duke Health Profile, Craig Handicap Assessment and Reporting Technique, Diener's Satisfaction With Life Survey. Results: Virtually all participants (98.7%) reported using some form of spiritual-based coping. Quality of life was highest among participants who use existential spiritual as opposed to religious spiritual coping. In particular, existential spirituality shared 27% variance with overall perceived life quality. Conclusions: Spiritual-based coping might be encouraged as a possible strategy to improve life quality. Clinicians should be cognizant of ongoing spiritual practices among persons with SCI. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Information Processing Deficits in Multiple Sclerosis: Does Choice of Screening Instrument Make a Difference?

Objective: To examine the clinical utility of the Letter-Number Sequencing (LNS) subtest of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-III and the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT) to detect cognitive decline in persons with multiple sclerosis (MS). Design: Case-control study. Setting: Outpatient rehabilitation research institution. Participants: Fifty-two adults with clinically definite MS. Main Outcome Measures: LNS standard score and number correct on the PASAT. Results: The PASAT was more sensitive to information processing deficits in persons with MS than was the LNS, perhaps due to a significant processing speed component in the former. Conclusions: The PASAT and the LNS have differential clinical utility, inasmuch as the PASAT assesses not only working memory ability but processing speed as well. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Canadian WISC-III directional base rates of score discrepancies by ability level.

A recent advancement in the clinical interpretation of test scores from the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Third Edition (WISC-III; Wechsler, 1991) and the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Third Edition (WAIS-III; Wechsler, 1997) is the use of antecedent probability or base rate data. However, the WISC-III only included a single table that did not reflect the direction of score differences. The Canadian standardization data for the WISC-III (The Psychological Corporation, 1996) were employed to create two-directional base rate tables based on five ability levels. These more comprehensive tables are in line with the approach frequently taken by psychologists in the interpretation of intelligence test data. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The joint WAIS-III and WMS-III factor structure: Development and cross-validation of a six-factor model of cognitive functioning.

During the standardization of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (3rd ed.; WAIS-III) and the Wechsler Memory Scale (3rd ed.; WMS-III) the participants in the normative study completed both scales. This "co-norming" methodology set the stage for full integration of the 2 tests and the development of an expanded structure of cognitive functioning. Until now, however, the WAIS-III and WMS-III had not been examined together in a factor analytic study. This article presents a series of confirmatory factor analyses to determine the joint WAIS-III and WMS-III factor structure. Using a structural equation modeling approach, a 6-factor model that included verbal, perceptual, processing speed, working memory, auditory memory, and visual memory constructs provided the best model fit to the data. Allowing select subtests to load simultaneously on 2 factors improved model fit and indicated that some subtests are multifaceted. The results were then replicated in a large cross-validation sample (N=858). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

VLCI approach for optimal capacitors allocation in distribution networks based on hybrid PSOGSA optimization algorithm

Neural Computing and Applications - The use of Shunt Capacitor Banks (SCB) as a convenient compensation source of reactive power in distribution networks has an efficient role in enhancement...     

The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy scale: development and validation of the general measure

PURPOSE: We developed and validated a brief, yet sensitive, 33-item general cancer quality-of-life (QL) measure for evaluating patients receiving cancer treatment, called the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy (FACT) scale. METHODS AND RESULTS: The five-phase validation process involved 854 patients with cancer and 15 oncology specialists. The initial pool of 370 overlapping items for breast, lung, and colorectal cancer was generated by open-ended interview with patients experienced with the symptoms of cancer and oncology professionals. Using preselected criteria, items were reduced to a 38-item general version. Factor and scaling analyses of these 38 items on 545 patients with mixed cancer diagnoses resulted in the 28-item FACT-general (FACT-G, version 2). In addition to a total score, this version produces subscale scores for physical, functional, social, and emotional well-being, as well as satisfaction with the treatment relationship. Coefficients of reliability and validity were uniformly high. The scale's ability to discriminate patients on the basis of stage of disease, performance status rating (PSR), and hospitalization status supports its sensitivity. It has also demonstrated sensitivity to change over time. Finally, the validity of measuring separate areas, or dimensions, of QL was supported by the differential responsiveness of subscales when applied to groups known to differ along the dimensions of physical, functional, social, and emotional well-being. CONCLUSION: The FACT-G meets or exceeds all requirements for use in oncology clinical trials, including ease of administration, brevity, reliability, validity, and responsiveness to clinical change. Selecting it for a clinical trial adds the capability to assess the relative weight of various aspects of QL from the patient's perspective.