bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of a computerized assessment for visual masking
Authors: Green Michael Foster , Nuechterlein Keith H. , Breitmeyer Bruno
Published: March 2006

Visual masking provides a highly informative means of assessing the earliest stages of visual processing. This procedure is frequently used in psychopathology research, most commonly in the study of schizophrenia. Deficits in visual masking tasks appear to reflect vulnerability factors in schizophrenia, as opposed to the symptoms of the illness. Visual masking procedures are typically conducted on a tachistoscope, which limits standardization across sites, as well as the number of variables that can be examined in a testing session. Although visual masking can be administered on a computer, most methods used so far have had poor temporal resolution and yielded a limited range of variables. We describe the development of a computerized visual masking battery. This battery includes a staircase procedure to establish an individual's threshold for target detection, and a relatively dense sampling of masking intervals. It includes both forward and backward masking trials for three different masking conditions that have been used previously in experimental psychopathology (target location, target identification with high‐energy mask, and target identification with low‐energy mask). Copyright © 2002 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
Development of a brief, clinically relevant, scale for measuring attachment disorders
Authors: Minnis Helen , Rabe‐Hesketh Sophia , Wolkind Stephen
Published: March 2006

A 17‐item questionnaire for reactive attachment disorders (RAD) was developed and administered to 182 Scottish children living in foster care. The RAD questionnaire had a good test‐retest reliability with an intra‐class correlation (ICC) of 0.78 and inter‐rater reliability with an ICC of 0.81. Cluster analysis showed that the children fell into three groups, two of which corresponded to the two reactive attachment disorder subtypes. High questionnaire scores for attachment disorders were significantly associated with conduct problems, emotional problems, hyperactivity and problems with peer relations and negatively associated with pro‐social behaviour. High overall questionnaire scores for reactive attachment disorder were associated with previous sexual abuse, whereas there was no association with previous physical abuse. High scores for the disinhibited subtype were associated with previous neglect. Copyright © 2002 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
Follow‐up of serious offender patients in the community: multiple methods of tracing
Authors: Jamieson Elizabeth , Taylor Pamela J.
Published: March 2006

Longitudinal studies of people with mental disorder are important in understanding outcome and intervention effects but attrition rates can be high. This study aimed to evaluate use of multiple record sources to trace, over 12 years, a one‐year discharge cohort of high‐security hospital patients. Everyone leaving such a hospital in 1984 was traced until a census date of 31 December 1995. Data were collected from several national databases (Office for National Statistics (ONS), Home Office (HO) Offenders' Index, Police National Computer Records, the Electoral Roll) and by hand‐searching responsible agency records (HO, National Health Service). Using all methods, only three of the 204 patients had no follow‐up information. Home Office Mental Health Unit data were an excellent source, but only for people still under discharge restrictions (<50% after eight years). Sequential tracing of hospital placements for people never or no longer under such restrictions was laborious and also produced only group‐specific yield. The best indicator of community residence was ONS information on general practitioner (GP/primary care) registration. The electoral roll was useful when other sources were exhausted. Follow‐up of offenders/offender‐patients has generally focused on event data, such as re‐offending. People untraced by that method alone, however, are unlikely to be lost to follow‐up on casting a wider records net. Using multiple records, attrition at the census was 38%, but, after certain assumptions, reduced further to 5%. Copyright © 2002 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
Validation of a new diagnostic procedure for DSM IV axis I disorders
Authors: Loze Jean‐Yves , Falissard Bruno , Limosin Frederic , Recasens Christophe , Horreard Anne‐Sophie , Rouillon Frederic
Published: March 2006

Despite the fact that, in today's psychiatric research and especially in epidemiological studies, diagnostic assessments are made with reliable standardized clinical interviews, recent articles have shown discrepancies in prevalence rates of DSM IV axis I disorders assessed with different, yet reliable, clinical standardized interviews, raising the problem of the clinical relevance of some of these instruments.

Within an epidemiological study, we developed a simple method for evaluating DSM IV axis I disorders with the aim of improving the clinical relevance of assessed diagnoses. This method is based on an evaluation performed by two clinicians. The first one used a short structured clinical interview (MINI v 5.0) and the second one completed the procedure with an open clinical interview, intended to be more clinically relevant. Finally, a consensus diagnosis is given by the two investigators. We conducted a survey in order to validate this method by measuring the agreement of diagnoses reported by two pairs of clinicians on a population of 20 inpatients. Results show that this double evaluation led to a high agreement (kappa ranging between 0.76 and 1.00) suggesting that the proposed evaluation procedure, which is intended to be more clinically relevant, is also highly reliable. Copyright © 2002 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
Accuracy of retrospective reports of infections during pregnancy
Authors: Voldsgaard Peter , Schiffman Jason , Mednick Sarnoff , Rodgers Bryan , Christensen Heidi , Bredkjaer Soren , Schulsinger Fini
Published: March 2006

A large body of research suggests a relationship between maternal influenza and the development of schizophrenia in the adult offspring. Some researchers, however, have questioned this association. A study by Crow and Done (1992) asserts that prenatal exposure to influenza does not cause schizophrenia. The methodology employed by Crow and Done may account for their null findings. Crow and colleagues assessed influenza by asking mothers at the time of birth to recall influenza infections experienced during pregnancy. Such retrospective recall may bias reporting. We assessed influenza symptoms during pregnancy in a group of 136 mothers at the twenty‐fifth week of pregnancy, and again one or two days after birth. We compared accounts of influenza at the twenty‐fifth week to recollection of influenza after birth. Results suggest that mothers tend to under‐report infections when recalling infections after birth. Retrospective assessment of influenza symptoms at birth may be an inaccurate method of assessing influenza during pregnancy. Copyright © 2002 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
The epidemiology of major depressive episodes: results from the International Consortium of Psychiatric Epidemiology (ICPE) surveys
Authors: Andrade Laura , Caraveo‐anduaga Jorge J. , Berglund Patricia , Bijl Rob V. , Graaf Ron De , Vollebergh Wilma , Dragomirecka Eva , Kohn Robert , Keller Martin , Kessler Ronald C , Kawakami Norito , Kiliç Cengiz , Offord David , Bedirhan Ustun T. , Wittchen Hans‐Ulrich
Published: March 2006

Absence of a common diagnostic interview has hampered cross‐national syntheses of epidemiological evidence on major depressive episodes (MDE). Community epidemiological surveys using the World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview administered face‐to‐face were carried out in 10 countries in North America (Canada and the US), Latin America (Brazil, Chile, and Mexico), Europe (Czech Republic, Germany, the Netherlands, and Turkey), and Asia (Japan). The total sample size was more than 37,000.

Lifetime prevalence estimates of hierarchy‐free DSM‐III‐R/DSM‐IV MDE varied widely, from 3% in Japan to 16.9% in the US, with the majority in the range of 8% to 12%. The 12‐month/lifetime prevalence ratio was in the range 40% to 55%, the 30‐day/12‐month prevalence ratio in the range 45% to 65%, and median age of onset in the range 20 to 25 in most countries. Consistent socio‐demographic correlates included being female and unmarried. Respondents in recent cohorts reported higher lifetime prevalence, but lower persistence than those in earlier cohorts. Major depressive episodes were found to be strongly co‐morbid with, and temporally secondary to, anxiety disorders in all countries, with primary panic and generalized anxiety disorders the most powerful predictors of the first onset of secondary MDE.

Major depressive episodes are a commonly occurring disorder that usually has a chronic‐intermittent course. Effectiveness trials are needed to evaluate the impact of early detection and treatment on the course of MDE as well as to evaluate whether timely treatment of primary anxiety disorders would reduce the subsequent onset, persistence, and severity of secondary MDE. Copyright © 2003 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
Child and adolescent depression: short‐term treatment effectiveness and long‐term opportunities
Authors: Ryan Neal D.
Published: March 2006

As with adult major depressive disorder (MDD), child and adolescent MDD is characterized as a common, chronic and recurrent disorder. It is also associated with short‐ and long‐term functional impairment, morbidity, and mortality. Effective treatments, both psychotherapeutic and pharmacotherapeutic, are available for the short‐term treatment and management of youth with MDD. However, to date, there are no data on the long‐term treatment and management of children and adolescents with MDD and how long‐term treatment may affect the outcomes of either high‐risk or already affected youth. Understanding the long‐term consequences of MDD during youth is as important as understanding how to treat a single episode of depression.

Available data on the pharmacotherapeutic and psychotherapeutic options are discussed. In general, tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) are not as effective for the treatment of youth with MDD as adults with MDD. The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have been shown to be effective in children and adolescents with MDD and non‐obsessive compulsive anxiety disorders. The serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI), venlafaxine XR, has been shown to be effective for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder in children and adolescents.

Understanding the long‐term clinical consequences of depressive disorders in youth may provide opportunities for better intervention across the clinical course of illness. Early recognition, diagnosis and adequate treatment of ‘high‐risk’ youth with subsyndromal depressive symptoms, treatment of acute episodes of depression to prevent ‘kindling’, and aggressive prophylaxis have the potential to improve the mental health of youth throughout their lives. Copyright © 2003 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
Emerging models of depression care: multi‐level (‘6 P’) strategies
Authors: Pincus Harold Alan , Hough Lin , Houtsinger Jeanie Knox , Rollman Bruce L. , Frank Richard G.
Published: March 2006

Depression is a prevalent, often chronic condition that has enormous personal, social, and financial consequences. Although technologies for treating depression have advanced notably over the past 20 years, many people continue to suffer needlessly, due in part to the lack of evidence‐based treatment applied in primary care settings. Substantial public and private efforts have been devoted to encouraging individuals to seek care, improving recognition and diagnosis by primary care physicians, and implementing evidence‐based treatment practices. From these efforts have come new models of care as well as an awareness of the critical barriers impeding clinical, organizational, economic, and policy implementation of effective care strategies. In this paper, we describe these clinical and systems barriers and consider the perspectives of various stakeholder groups; present emerging clinical models for providing evidence‐based care as well as economic strategies for overcoming barriers to their implementation; and propose community‐based approaches that will need to be tested. To achieve maximum benefits from current knowledge, we will need to implement a multi‐level strategy employing focused efforts involving patients, providers, practice settings, health plans, purchasers (public and private), and populations (or communities): the ‘6 P’ strategy. Copyright © 2003 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
PROD‐screen – a screen for prodromal symptoms of psychosis
Authors: Heinimaa M. , Salokangas R.K.R. , Ristkari T. , Plathin M. , Huttunen J. , Ilonen T. , Suomela T. , Korkeila J. , Mcglashan T.H.
Published: March 2006

The aim of this study was to describe the PROD‐screen, an instrument for screening prodromal symptoms indicating risk for psychotic conversion in the near future. PROD‐screen consists of 29 questions assessing performance and symptoms.

Clinical construct validity was tested by comparing scores from the unselected general population (GP, n = 64) with those of general psychiatric patients from a community mental health centre (CMHC, n = 107). The concordant validity of PROD‐screen for prodromal symptoms of psychosis was assessed in a large epidemiologically mixed sample of research subjects (n = 132) by comparing PROD‐screen scores with the prodromal diagnosis made by Structured Interview for Prodromal Symptoms as a gold standard.

Using the cut‐off point of 2/12 specific symptoms, PROD‐screen gave correct classification of prodromal status in 77% of cases, distinguishing prodromal from non‐prodromal subjects with reasonable sensitivity (80%) and specificity (75%) in the epidemiologically mixed sample. According to subsample analysis PROD‐screen functions well with first‐degree relatives of schizophrenic patients and probably also with general population samples, but not with psychiatric outpatients.

In conclusion, PROD‐screen is a useful tool for screening prodromal symptoms of psychosis and selecting subjects for more extensive research interviews. Copyright © 2003 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
Acceptability, validity and reliability of the Structured Clinical Interview for the Spectrum of Substance Use (SCI‐SUBS): a pilot study
Authors: Sbrana A. , Dell'osso L. , Gonnelli C. , Impagnatiello P. , Doria M.R. , Spagnolli S. , Ravani L. , Cassano G.B. , Frank E. , Shear M.K. , Grochocinski V.J. , Rucci P. , Maser J.D. , Endicott J.
Published: March 2006

This paper reports on the acceptability, reliability and validity of the Structured Clinical Interview for the Spectrum of Substance Use (SCI‐SUBS), a new instrument exploring the interactive pathway between substance abuse and psychiatric disorders.

Psychiatric outpatients with (n = 21) and without (n = 32) substance abuse comorbidity according to the DSM‐IV, non‐psychiatric subjects with opioid dependence (OD, n = 14) and normal controls (n = 33) were assessed with the SCI‐SUBS. The presence or absence of psychiatric disorders was determined with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM IV (SCID).

The SCI‐SUBS was well accepted by participants. The internal consistency of the domains was satisfactory (between 0.64 and 0.93). Domain scores of OD subjects were significantly higher than those of controls and of psychiatric patients without substance abuse. The cut‐off point on the SCI‐SUBS total score at which there was optimal discrimination between the presence and the absence of a DSM‐IV diagnosis of substance abuse was 45.

The pilot version of the SCI‐SUBS has satisfactory internal consistency and construct validity. Copyright © 2003 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
A comparison of antidepressant trials using active and inert placebos
Authors: Moncrieff Joanna
Published: March 2006

In placebo‐controlled antidepressant trials, there are concerns that the double blind may be breached, which may bias results. Some trials have therefore used placebos containing active substances in order to mimic the side effects of antidepressants. This study set out to examine the impact of ‘unblinding’ by comparing the results of a meta‐analysis of a sample of trials using ordinary inert placebos with a meta‐analysis of trials using active placebos. An a priori sub‐group analysis of trials conducted with inpatients and outpatients was carried out. Quality was assessed using a quality assessment instrument and meta‐regression analysis was conducted to explore heterogeneity. Results of meta‐analysis did not differ between trials using active placebos and trials using inert ones. However, results were strongly influenced by two large trials. When these were excluded trials using inert placebos showed greater antidepressant‐placebo differences than trials using active placebos. There was very high heterogeneity especially among trials using inert placebos. Meta‐regression analysis showed the only significant predictor of outcome was whether trials were conducted with inpatients or outpatients. Sub‐group analysis showed significant differences between antidepressants and any type of placebo in trials conducted with outpatients but not in inpatient trials. Lack of data, heterogeneity and the influence of large studies limited the analysis. The integrity of the double blind design, its effect on results and the heterogeneity between studies, require further exploration in antidepressant trials. Copyright © 2003 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
The Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI‐AUTO): problems and remedies for diagnosing panic disorder and social phobia
Authors: Means‐Christensen Adrienne , Sherbourne Cathy D. , Roy‐Byrne Peter , Craske Michelle G. , Bystritsky Alexander , Stein Murray B.
Published: March 2006

In a recent study of treatment for panic disorder in primary care, the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI‐Auto) was used to provide psychiatric diagnoses. However, during and after data collection, it was discovered that the CIDI appeared to place, or fail to place, a substantial number of people into diagnostic categories in ways that conflicted with the investigators' clinical experience. The wording of questions in the panic module, coupled with a lack of structured follow‐up probes, resulted in apparent false negatives for panic disorder. Moreover, patients who would otherwise meet criteria for panic disorder or social phobia did not receive a diagnosis based on rules that may be discordant with clinical practice and, at times, the design of the DSM‐IV.

For this study, changes were made to the interview, including additional probes for the panic disorder module and modification of the decision rules used to assign or rule out diagnoses of panic disorder and social phobia. The changes resulted in greater inclusion of patients in the panic disorder and social phobia diagnostic categories and we argue that these changes to the CIDI‐Auto increase the clinical validity of this instrument. We did not examine the false positive rate for the unmodified or modified CIDI, but this is an important issue that needs to be evaluated in future research. Copyright © 2003 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
Brief measure of expressed emotion: internal consistency and stability over time
Authors: Sandberg Seija , Rutter Michael , Järvi Johanna
Published: March 2006

The study examined three methodological aspects of expressed emotion (EE) as assessed in the course of PACE (Psychosocial Assessment of Childhood Experiences) interviews with a parent. In a sample of 87 children, aged 6–13 years, enrolled in a prospective study examining the role of stress on the course of asthma, EE was assessed at three time points, 9 months apart. A high degree of agreement was found among the three concurrent measures of negative and positive EE (kappas from 0.74 to 0.97, and from 0.45 to 0.88, respectively; p ≤ 0.0001 in all instances). The temporal stability of all measures was lower, although statistically significant in all but 2 instances (kappas from 0.19 to 0.59, and from 0.11 to 0.39, respectively). The temporal stability across measures, as well as across interviewers and over time, was broadly similar (kappas from 0.21 to 0.56 for negative EE, and from 0.09 to 0.38 for positive EE, with all but three of the 36 statistically significant). The findings provide support for the underlying assumptions of the PACE‐EE and show the utility of measures based on just very brief periods of non‐directive interviewing, making them practical in a wide range of studies with EE just one of a larger set of measures. Copyright © 2003 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
Inter‐rater reliability of the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale and the Groningen Social Disabilities Schedule in a European multi‐site randomized controlled trial on the effectiveness of acute psychiatric day hospitals
Authors: Schützwohl Matthias , Jarosz‐Nowak Joanna , Briscoe Jane , Szajowski Krzysztof , Kallert Thomas
Published: March 2006

The objectives of this study were to report the inter‐rater reliability of the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS 4.0) and the Groningen Social Disabilities Schedule (GSDS‐II) as assessed in a randomized controlled trial on the effectiveness of psychiatric day hospitals spanning five sites in countries of Central and Western Europe.

Following brief training sessions, videotaped BPRS‐interviews and written GSDS‐vignettes were rated by clinically experienced researchers from all participating sites. Inter‐rater reliability often proved to be poor for items assessing the severity of both psychopathology and social dysfunction, but findings suggest that both instruments allow for the assessment of the presence or absence of specific psychopathological symptoms or social disabilities. Inter‐rater reliability at subscale level proved to be good for both instruments.

Results indicate that, with a brief training session and proper use of the instruments, psychopathology and social disabilities can be reliably assessed within cross‐national research studies. The results are of particular interest given that the need to conduct cross‐national multi‐site studies including countries with different cultural backgrounds increases. Copyright © 2003 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
Aims, design and methods of the Smoking and Nicotine Dependence Awareness and Screening (SNICAS) study
Authors: Muehlig Stephan , Hoch Eva , Hoefler Michael , Pittrow David , Wittchen Hans‐Ulrich
Published: March 2006

The objectives of the Smoking and Nicotine Dependence Awareness (SNICAS) study are to provide nationally representative data on the prevalence of smoking and smoking dependence of primary care patients and the frequency in which smoking cessation interventions are offered and provided in primary care. With the inclusion of both providers' (doctor) and patients' perspectives, the study also attempts to identify the needs and motivational status for smoking cessation as reported by the patients and as perceived by the doctor.

The Smoking and Nicotine Dependence Awareness study uses a two‐stage epidemiological design. Stage 1 consists of a pre‐study characterization of a nationwide sample of 889 primary care doctors (conservative response rate: 50%). Stage 2 consists of a cross‐sectional assessment of unselected consecutive patients (n = 28,707, conservative response rate: 52.8%) on the study's target day, by means of patient questionnaire and a structured clinical appraisal of each patient by the doctor.

This paper provides an overview of the design and methods of the study, informs about sampling and response rates, and examines whether the study sample could be considered representative of German primary care doctors. Copyright © 2003 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
A longitudinal evaluation of two‐year outcome in a community‐based mental health service using graphical chain models
Authors: Ruggeri Mirella , Bisoffi Giulia , Lasalvia Antonio , Amaddeo Francesco , Bonetto Chiara , Biggeri Annibale
Published: March 2006

The 2‐year outcome of 178 patients attending a community‐based mental health service was assessed from a multidimensional perspective. The study investigated: (1) the effect of disease‐related characteristics (such as diagnosis and illness duration) and of a series of outcome variables measured at baseline (global functioning, psychopathology, social disability, quality of life and satisfaction with services) on total costs of care over 2 years; and (2) the effect of costs of care and outcome variables measured at baseline on the corresponding outcome variables at 2 years.

To gain insight into the multivariate longitudinal dependencies among variables, we used graphical Gaussian chain models, a new multivariate method that analyses the relationship between continuous variables taking into account the effect of antecedent and intervening variables, to reveal not only direct but also indirect correlations.

Outcome variables showed the tendency to segregate, both at baseline and follow‐up, into two distinct groups: a clinician‐rated dimension (given by global functioning, social disability and psychopathology) and a patient‐rated dimension (given by service satisfaction and subjective quality of life). Higher costs at 2 years were predicted by higher psychopathology at baseline, diagnosis of psychosis and longer duration of illness. Baseline values for each variable were the main predictors of the corresponding values at two years. Improvement in satisfaction with life at follow‐up was experienced in those subjects with a lower functioning at baseline. This study throws some light on the complex relationships between clinical, social and economic variables affecting the medium‐term outcome of mental health care. Copyright © 2004 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
Use of resampling to select among alternative error structure specifications for GLMM analyses of repeated measurements
Authors: Tonidandel Scott , Overall John E. , Smith Fraser
Published: March 2006

Autocorrelated error and missing data due to dropouts have fostered interest in the flexible general linear mixed model (GLMM) procedures for analysis of data from controlled clinical trials. The user of these adaptable statistical tools must, however, choose among alternative structural models to represent the correlated repeated measurements. The fit of the error structure model specification is important for validity of tests for differences in patterns of treatment effects across time, particularly when maximum likelihood procedures are relied upon. Results can be affected significantly by the error specification that is selected, so a principled basis for selecting the specification is important. As no theoretical grounds are usually available to guide this decision, empirical criteria have been developed that focus on model fit. The current report proposes alternative empirical criteria that focus on bootstrap estimates of actual type I error and power of tests for treatment effects. Results for model selection before and after the blind is broken are compared. Goodness‐of‐fit statistics also compare favourably for models fitted to the blinded or unblinded data, although the correspondence to actual type I error and power depends on the particular fit statistic that is considered. Copyright © 2004 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
Symptom development and timing of menarche: a longitudinal study
Authors: El‐Khouri Bassam Michel , Mellner Christin
Published: March 2006

Self‐reported somatic complaints among females were studied cross sectionally at age 15 and 43, and longitudinally between these two ages. Specifically, the relationship between symptom development and timing of menarche was considered. The sample consisted of 477 females representing the general Swedish population. All the included symptoms were significantly related to each other at both ages. There was also longitudinal correlational stability for all the studied symptoms. Moreover, symptoms at age 15 were associated with early menarcheal timing. Pattern analyses of the studied symptoms were conducted with roots in person‐oriented methodology. These results revealed structural as well as individual stability in patterns of symptom reporting for nearly 30 years. That is, similar configurations of symptoms were found at both ages, and it was the same females who reported being either symptom free or reporting a high symptom load at both ages. At age 15 fewer early maturing females than expected by chance reported being symptom free, whereas more of the late maturing females than expected reported being symptom free. However, there were no effects of menarcheal timing on symptom reporting at age 43. Copyright © 2004 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
The National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS‐R): background and aims
Authors: Kessler Ronald C. , Merikangas Kathleen R.
Published: March 2006

The National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS‐R) is a new nationally representative community household survey of the prevalence and correlates of mental disorders in the US. The NCS‐R was carried out a decade after the original NCS. The NCS‐R repeats many of the questions from the NCS and also expands the NCS questioning to include assessments based on the more recent Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM‐IV) diagnostics system (American Psychiatric Association, 1994). The NCS‐R was designed to (1) investigate time trends and their correlates over the decade of the 1990s and (2) expand the assessment of the prevalence and correlates of mental disorders beyond the assessment in the baseline NCS in order to address a number of important substantive and methodological issues that were raised by the NCS. This paper presents a brief review of these aims. Copyright © 2004 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
The World Mental Health (WMH) Survey Initiative version of the World Health Organization (WHO) Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI)
Authors: Kessler Ronald C. , Üstün T. Bedirhan
Published: March 2006

This paper presents an overview of the World Mental Health (WMH) Survey Initiative version of the World Health Organization (WHO) Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) and a discussion of the methodological research on which the development of the instrument was based. The WMH‐CIDI includes a screening module and 40 sections that focus on diagnoses (22 sections), functioning (four sections), treatment (two sections), risk factors (four sections), socio‐demographic correlates (seven sections), and methodological factors (two sections). Innovations compared to earlier versions of the CIDI include expansion of the diagnostic sections, a focus on 12‐month as well as lifetime disorders in the same interview, detailed assessment of clinical severity, and inclusion of information on treatment, risk factors, and consequences. A computer‐assisted version of the interview is available along with a direct data entry software system that can be used to keypunch responses to the paper‐and‐pencil version of the interview. Computer programs that generate diagnoses are also available based on both ICD‐10 and DSM‐IV criteria. Elaborate CD‐ROM‐based training materials are available to teach interviewers how to administer the interview as well as to teach supervisors how to monitor the quality of data collection. Copyright © 2004 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
Centring in regression analyses: a strategy to prevent errors in statistical inference
Authors: Kraemer Helena C. , Blasey Christine M.
Published: March 2006

Regression analyses are perhaps the most widely used statistical tools in medical research. Centring in regression analyses seldom appears to be covered in training and is not commonly reported in research papers. Centring is the process of selecting a reference value for each predictor and coding the data based on that reference value so that each regression coefficient that is estimated and tested is relevant to the research question. Using non‐centred data in regression analysis, which refers to the common practice of entering predictors in their original score format, often leads to inconsistent and misleading results. There is very little cost to unnecessary centring, but the costs of not centring when it is necessary can be major. Thus, it would be better always to centre in regression analyses. We propose a simple default centring strategy: (1) code all binary independent variables +1/2; (2) code all ordinal independent variables as deviations from their median; (3) code all ‘dummy variables’ for categorical independent variables having m possible responses as 1−1/m and −1/m instead of 1 and 0; (4) compute interaction terms from centred predictors. Using this default strategy when there is no compelling evidence to centre protects against most errors in statistical inference and its routine use sensitizes users to centring issues. Copyright © 2004 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
Self‐reported use of mental health services versus administrative records: care to recall?
Authors: Rhodes Anne E. , Fung Kinwah
Published: March 2006

Estimates of the level of unmet need for mental health treatment often rely on self‐reported use of mental health services. However, depressed persons may over‐report their use in relation to administrative records if they are highly distressed. This study seeks to replicate and explicate the finding that persons at a high level of distress report more mental health service use than recorded in their healthcare records. The study sample, N=36,892, 12 years and older, was drawn from the 1996/97 Ontario portion of the Canadian National Population Health Survey. Respondents were individually linked to their administrative mental healthcare records 12 months backward in time. Of these, 96.5% agreed to the link and 23,063 (62.5%) were linked. Almost two‐thirds of those who were depressed in the past year were currently at a high level of distress. Differential reporting of use for highly distressed persons in excess of 100% remained in the use of different types of physician providers after adjustments for other potential determinants of use. Telescoping was also not an explanation. The patterns of differential reporting between groups expected to diverge and converge in their recall ability were consistent with a recall bias. As this study was not able to rule out a recall bias, it further accentuates concerns about the impact of bias in the measurement of mental health‐service use and inferences made concerning the determinants of use. Copyright © 2004 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
The Homeless Supplement to the Diagnostic Interview Schedule: test‐retest analyses
Authors: North Carol S. , Eyrich Karin M. , Pollio David E. , Foster Douglas A. , Cottler Linda B. , Spitznagel Edward L.
Published: March 2006

This study sought to extend previous work on reliability of self‐reported residential history in a homeless population with high rates of drug abuse. The latest version of the Homeless Supplement to the Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS/HS) was used to achieve reliability on homelessness experience, use of shelters, transience, and recent residential patterns.

Homeless study volunteers were recruited for a test‐retest study from a drop‐in day centre for mentally ill homeless people (N = 25) and a substance abuse day programme (N = 30). They were administered the instrument approximately one to two days apart. Kappa and intraclass correlation analyses were performed to assess reliability.

Overall, the reliabilities of most variables were acceptable, ranging from fair to excellent. Six items were reconstructed to achieve reliability and two were dropped. Substance dependence and adult antisocial behaviour patterns did not affect reliability on most items.

This study has developed a reliable self report instrument for measuring residential history that can be used with homeless and drug abusing populations. Replication is needed in larger, more representative samples and comparison of reliability with other psychiatric and cognitive characteristics. Copyright © 2004 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
The National Survey of American Life: a study of racial, ethnic and cultural influences on mental disorders and mental health
Authors: Jackson James S. , Torres Myriam , Caldwell Cleopatra H. , Neighbors Harold W. , Nesse Randolph M. , Taylor Robert Joseph , Trierweiler Steven J. , Williams David R.
Published: March 2006

The objectives of the National Survey of American Life (NSAL) are to investigate the nature, severity, and impairment of mental disorders among national samples of the black and non‐Hispanic white (n = 1,006) populations in the US. Special emphasis in the study is given to the nature of race and ethnicity within the black population by selecting and interviewing national samples of African‐American (N = 3,570), and Afro‐Caribbean (N = 1,623) immigrant and second and older generation populations. National multi‐stage probability methods were used in generating the samples and race/ethnic matching of interviewers and respondents were used in the largely face‐to‐face interview, which lasted on average 2 hours and 20 minutes. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) IV World Mental Health Composite Interview (WHO‐CIDI) was used to assess a wide range of serious mental disorders, potential risk and resilience factors, and help seeking and service use patterns. This paper provides an overview of the design of the NSAL, sample selection procedures, recruitment and training of the national interviewing team, and some of the special problems faced in interviewing ethnically and racially diverse national samples. Unique features of sample design, including special screening and listing procedures, interviewer training and supervision, and response rate outcomes are described. Copyright © 2004 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
Considering context, place and culture: the National Latino and Asian American Study
Authors: Alegria Margarita , Takeuchi David , Canino Glorisa , Duan Naihua , Shrout Patrick , Meng Xiao‐Li , Vega William , Zane Nolan , Vila Doryliz , Woo Meghan , Vera Mildred , Guarnaccia Peter , Aguilar‐gaxiola Sergio , Sue Stanley , Escobar Javier , Lin Keh‐ming , Gong Fong
Published: March 2006

This paper provides a rationale for, and overview of, procedures used to develop the National Latino and Asian American Study (NLAAS). The NLAAS is nationally representative community household survey that estimates the prevalence of mental disorders and rates of mental health service utilization by Latinos and Asian Americans in the US. The central aims of the NLAAS are to: 1) describe the lifetime and 12‐month prevalence of psychiatric disorders and the rates of mental health services use for Latino and Asian American populations using nationwide representative samples of Latinos and Asian Americans, 2) assess the associations among social position, environmental context, and psychosocial factors with the prevalence of psychiatric disorders and utilization rates of mental health services, and 3) compare the lifetime and 12‐month prevalence of psychiatric disorders, and utilization of mental health services of Latinos and Asian Americans with national representative samples of non‐Latino whites (from the National Comorbidity Study‐Replication) (NCS‐R) and African Americans (from the National Survey of American Life) (NSAL). This paper presents new concepts and methods utilized in the development of the NLAAS to capture and investigate ethnic, cultural and environmental considerations that are often ignored in mental health research. Copyright © 2004 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
The development and implementation of the National Comorbidity Survey Replication, the National Survey of American Life, and the National Latino and Asian American Survey
Authors: Pennell Beth‐Ellen , Bowers Ashley , Carr Deborah , Chardoul Stephanie , Cheung Gina‐qian , Dinkelmann Karl , Gebler Nancy , Hansen Sue Ellen , Pennell Steve , Torres Myriam
Published: March 2006

This paper provides an overview of the development and implementation of the Collaborative Psychiatric Epidemiology Surveys (CPES): the National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS‐R), the National Survey of American Life (NSAL), and the National Latino and Asian American Study (NLAAS). It describes the instrument development and testing phases, the development of training and other project materials, interviewer recruitment and training activities, and data collection procedures and outcomes. The last section offers recommendations for other researchers who undertake similar studies and who might benefit from the experiences learned in the development and operation of NCS‐R, NSAL and NLAAS. Copyright © 2004 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
Cultural relevance and equivalence in the NLAAS instrument: integrating etic and emic in the development of cross‐cultural measures for a psychiatric epidemiology and services study of Latinos
Authors: Alegria Margarita , Vila Doryliz , Woo Meghan , Canino Glorisa , Takeuchi David , Vera Mildred , Febo Vivian , Guarnaccia Peter , Aguilar‐Gaxiola Sergio , Shrout Patrick
Published: March 2006

This paper describes the development, translation and adaptation of measures in the National Latino and Asian American Study (NLAAS). We summarize the techniques used to attain cultural relevance; semantic, content and technical equivalency; and internal consistency of the measures across languages and Latino sub‐ethnic groups. We also discuss some of the difficulties and challenges encountered in doing this work. The following three main goals are addressed in this paper: (1) attaining cultural relevance by formulating the research problem with attention to the fundamental cultural and contextual differences of Latinos and Asians as compared to the mainstream population; (2) developing cultural equivalence in the standardized instruments to be used with these populations; and (3) assessing the generalizability of the measures–i.e., that the measures do not fluctuate according to culture or translation. We present details of the processes and steps used to achieve these three goals in developing measures for the Latino population. Additionally, the integration of both the etic and emic perspectives in the instrument adaptation model is presented. Copyright © 2004 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
Modelling sources of informant variance in parent and teacher ratings of child psychopathology
Authors: Zahner Gwendolyn E.P. , Daskalakis Constantine
Published: March 2006

Factors influencing agreement between parent and teacher ratings of child psychopathology were studied in a population‐based survey of 1458 children aged six to 11. Child psychopathology was assessed with the Child Behaviour Checklist. Agreement on the internalizing scale, the externalizing scale, and the total score was assessed using log‐linear models. Characteristics of the children and the informants, as well as variables pertaining to the testing conditions, were examined as possible predictors of informant agreement. In general, parent–teacher agreement was low on all three scales, especially on the internalizing scale, although it was significantly better than chance. Most of the beyond‐chance agreement was due to the tendency for parents to give higher ratings when teachers did (correlation of ratings). Measures representing the teacher's familiarity and contact with the child were significant predictors of agreement for both the internalizing and externalizing scales. Agreement on the externalizing ratings was also influenced by several other factors, including the child's age and religion, the parent informant's gender and education, as well as school grade. Predictors of agreement on the total score included the child's age and gender, factors related to the child's academic functioning and need for treatment as perceived by the parent, and the parent's and teacher's preference for different mental health treatment providers. Copyright © 1998 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
How efficient is a screener? A comparison of the PRIME‐MD patient questionnaire with the SDDS‐PC screen
Authors: Boyer Patrice , Bisserbe Jean‐Claude , Weiller Emannuelle
Published: March 2006

Brief structured interviews have been developed to facilitate the recognition of psychiatric conditions by primary care physicians. The efficiency of two of these interviews (the PRIME‐MD and the SDDS‐PC) is examined in this paper. The operating characteristics of the patient questionnaires of the PRIME‐MD and of the SDDS‐PC are compared using independent diagnoses made with the SCID as a criterion standard. According to the main validation studies published for the two questionnaires the sensitivity and the specificity for mood and anxiety disorders are generally good but the positive predictive value remains low. Compared to existing questionnaires, PRIME‐MD and SDDS‐PC screens have better sensitivity and offer the possibility of screening simultaneously for multiple mental disorders. Nevertheless there is a risk of false positive outcomes. Copyright © 1998 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
Complex sample design effects and inference for mental health survey data
Authors: Heeringa Steven G. , Liu Jinyun
Published: March 2006

Mental health researchers world‐wide are using large‐scale sample survey methods to study mental health epidemiology and services utilization in general, non‐clinical populations (Alegria et al. in press). This article reviews important statistical methods and software that apply to descriptive and multivariate analysis of data collected in sample surveys. A comparative analysis of mental health surveys in international locations is used to illustrate analysis procedures and ‘design effects’ for survey estimates of population statistics, model parameters and test statistics.

This article addresses the following questions. How should a research analyst approach the analysis of sample survey data? Are there software tools available to perform this analysis? Is the use of ‘correct’ survey analysis methods important to interpretation of survey data? It addresses the question of approaches to the analysis of complex sample survey data. The latest developments in software tools for the analysis of complex sample survey data are covered, and empirical examples are presented that illustrate the impact of survey sample design features on the interpretation of confidence intervals and test statistics for univariate and multivariate analyses. Copyright © 1998 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
Making good use of numerical predictors: alternatives to categories or straight lines
Authors: Wells J. Elisabeth
Published: March 2006

Numerical predictors such as age, scores or scales are often used in analyses that assume linearity, which may be unjustified, or they are categorized, which results in loss of power. Restricted cubic spline regression is an alternative technique without linearity assumptions or the problems associated with categorization. This paper describes restricted cubic spline regression models, following Durrleman and Simon. Two examples are given, one from psychiatric epidemiology and one from clinical research. The first example models the probability of marriage in relation to age, for women with or without antisocial personality disorder. The second example looks at the relationship between anxiety disorder and novelty seeking in depressed patients. Curvilinear effects do occur in psychiatry and it is important to know how to detect them. Copyright © 1998 Whurr Publishers Ltd.