Objective: To complement standardized measurement of symptoms, we developed and tested an efficient strategy for identifying (before treatment) and repeatedly assessing (during treatment) the problems identified as most important by caregivers and youths in psychotherapy. Method: A total of 178 outpatient-referred youths, 7-13 years of age, and…

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive episode (MDE) are frequent and disabling consequences of surviving severe injury. The majority of those who develop these problems are not identified or treated. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a screening instrument that identifies, during hospitalization, adults at high…

Developed the Bulimia Test (BULIT) based on responses of clinically identified females (N=18) and normal female college students (N=119) to preliminary test items. Results showed that the BULIT provided an objective, reliable, and valid measure by which to identify individuals with symptoms of bulimia. (Instrument is appended.) (LLL)

Developed empirically based criteria for use of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) to aid in the assessment and diagnosis of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in patients (N=200). Analysis based on an empircally derived decision rule correctly classified 74 percent of the patients in each group. (LLL)

Developed and tested a short form of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised (WAIS-R) in 107 subjects. Results showed that when statistical corrections are made for item overlap between the two forms, the resulting correlation drops to .90 and that similar results were obtained in a cross-validation study. (LLL)

Demonstrated the reliability of the Body Sensations Questionnaire and the Agorophobic Cognitions Questionnaire on two clinical samples (N=175). The instruments fared well on tests of discriminant and construct validity. Concluded that these self-report inventories are useful, inexpensive, and easily scored measures for clinical and research…

The purpose of the present study was to construct a short form of the WPPSI, composed of four tests. There is a need for a short form which should be particularly valuable to those who must evaluate the intelligence of large numbers of young children and who therefore face practical problems concerning administration time. (Author)

Conducted four studies to develop Adolescent Perceived Events Scale (APES), measure of major and daily stressful events during adolescence. Describes test construction, test-retest reliability, and concurrent validity of APES. Summarizes subsequent research showing APES to be significantly related to behavior problems and psychological…

Investigated robustness of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R) factor structure. Comparisons of the loadings obtained with generalization sample and 10 1/2-year-old national standardization sample suggest high degree of similarity in composition, magnitude, and pattern. Findings highly support robustness of WISC-R's…

Developed and validated Weight Efficacy Life-Style Questionnaire (WEL), which consists of five situational factors: Negative Emotions, Availability, Social Pressure, Physical Discomfort, and Positive Activities. Found hierarchical model to provide best fit to data. Results from two studies (total n=382) showed WEL to be sensitive to changes in…

Divided the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory Pd scale into obvious (O), neutral (N), and subtle (S) subscales. Using college students results were: Pd-O scores were the most powerful predictor of criterion; Pd-S scores made a smaller but unique contribution; and Pd-N scores made no contribution not already in Pd-O criterion…

Rated 583 children and adolescents with mental retardation on new psychometric instrument, Reiss Scales for Children's Dual Diagnosis, to screen for psychopathology in individuals with mental retardation. Respondents who had dual diagnosis obtained total scores approximately one standard deviation higher than those without dual diagnosis. Each of…

Explores factor structure of the Personality Research Form (PRF) and examines the inventory's relations with response styles. In general, the PRF content scales correlate moderately with each other and with measures of acquiescence, social desirability, and defensiveness response biases. (Author)

Describes the development of a 20-item measure of irrational belief that asks only about irrational belief and not about anxiety reactions. Two studies of the scale produced evidence that it has good internal consistency and good test retest reliability. Three additional studies of the scale found evidence of validity. (Author/NB)

Presents revisions and item analyses of the Positive Feelings Questionnaire (PFQ) from a contrasted group of l04 clinic and community couples. Results found the PFQ to be internally consistent, relatively stable over time, correlated with measures of marital interaction, and sensitive to changes during marital therapy. (LLL)