G1 arrest and differentiation can occur independently of Rb family function

Repression of E2F target genes is required for cell cycle arrest in Rb family (Rb, p107, and p130)-deficient cells

Mindfulness In Parenting Questionnaire (MIPQ): Development and Validation of a Measure of Mindful Parenting

The aim of the present study was to develop and psychometrically evaluate a measure of mindful parenting (the Mindfulness In Parenting Questionnaire (MIPQ)) for use with parents of children and adolescents, ranging in age from 2- to 16-years-old. Content experts assisted in item development, and cognitive interviewing was used to revise the measure. Parents (N = 203) completed the preliminary MIPQ along with measures of parenting style, parenting practices, and mindfulness. The contemporary psychometrics approach known as the item response theory (IRT) was used to evaluate the MIPQ. Results yielded two dimensions, each of which was measured optimally using the partial credit model. The two dimensions, mindful discipline and being in the moment with the child, explained 42.3 and 43.4 % of the variance, respectively. Correlations between the MIPQ and parenting style, parenting practices, practice of mindfulness, and participant demographics provided support for construct validity. The MIPQ exhibited a positive and weak correlation with the MAAS, indicating that interpersonal and intrapersonal mindfulness are related yet separate and distinct constructs. Limitations and directions for future research are discussed

Psychometric Evaluation of the PainCAS Interference with Daily Activities, Psychological/Emotional Distress, and Pain Scales

PURPOSE: The PainCAS is a web-based clinical tool for assessing and tracking pain and opioid risk in chronic pain patients. Despite evidence for its utility within the clinical setting, the PainCAS scales have never been subject to psychometric evaluation. The current study is the first to evaluate the psychometric properties of the PainCAS Interference with Daily Activities, Psychological/Emotional Distress, and Pain scales. METHODS: Patients (N = 4797) from treatment centers and hospitals in 16 different states completed the PainCAS as part of routine clinical assessment. A subsample (n = 73) from two hospital-based treatment centers also completed comparator measures. Rasch Rating Scale Models were employed to evaluate the Interference with Daily Activities and Psychological/Emotional Distress scales, and empirical evaluation included assessment of dimensionality, discrimination, item fit, reliability, information, and person-to-item targeting. Additionally, convergent and discriminant validity were evaluated through classical test theory approaches. Convergent validity of the Pain scales was evaluated through correlations with corresponding comparator items. RESULTS: One Interference with Daily Activities item was removed due to poor functioning and discrimination. The retained items from the Interference with Daily Activities and Psychological/Emotional Distress scales conformed to unidimensional Rasch measurement models, yielding satisfactory item fit, reliability, precision, and coverage. Further, results provided support for the convergent and discriminant validity of these two scales. Convergent validity between the PainCAS Pain and BPI Pain items was also strong. CONCLUSION: Taken together, results provide strong psychometric support for these PainCAS Pain scales. Strengths and limitations of the current study are discussed

A Computer Adaptive Testing Version of the Addiction Severity Index-Multimedia Version (ASI-MV): The Addiction Severity CAT

The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a computer adaptive testing (CAT) version of the Addiction Severity Index-Multimedia Version (ASI-MV), the Addiction Severity CAT. This goal was accomplished in 4 steps. First, new candidate items for Addiction Severity CAT domains were evaluated after brainstorming sessions with experts in substance abuse treatment. Next, this new item bank was psychometrically evaluated on a large nonclinical (n = 4,419) and substance abuse treatment (n = 845) sample. Based on these results, final items were selected and calibrated for the creation of the Addiction Severity CAT algorithms. Once the algorithms were developed for the entire assessment, a fully functioning prototype of an Addiction Severity CAT was created. CAT simulations were conducted, and optimal termination criteria were selected for the Addiction Severity CAT algorithms. Finally, construct validity of the CAT algorithms was evaluated by examining convergent and discriminant validity and sensitivity to change. The Addiction Severity CAT was determined to be valid, sensitive to change, and reliable. Further, the Addiction Severity CAT\u27s time of completion was found to be significantly less than the average time of completion for the ASI-MV composite scores. This study represents the initial validation of an Addiction Severity CAT based on item response theory, and further exploration of the Addiction Severity CAT is needed. (PsycINFO Database Recor

A New Questionnaire to Assess Respiratory Symptoms (The Respiratory Symptom Experience Scale): Quantitative Psychometric Assessment and Validation Study

BackgroundSmokers often experience respiratory symptoms (eg, morning cough), and those who stop smoking, including those who do so by switching completely to electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), may experience reductions in symptoms. Existing respiratory symptom questionnaires may not be suitable for studying these changes, as they are intended for patient populations, such as those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). ObjectiveThis study aimed to develop a respiratory symptom questionnaire appropriate for current smokers and for assessing changes when smokers stop smoking. MethodsThe Respiratory Symptom Experience Scale (RSES) was derived from existing instruments and subject matter expert input and refined through cognitive debriefing interviews (n=49). Next, for purposes of the quantitative psychometric evaluation, the RSES was administered to smokers (n=202), former smokers (no tobacco use in >6 months; n=200), and switchers (n=208, smokers who switched to ENDS for >6 months), all of whom had smoked for at least 10 years (mean age 33 years). Participants, who averaged 62 (SD 12) years of age, included 28% (173/610) with respiratory allergy symptoms and 17% (104/610) with COPD. Test-retest reliability was assessed by repeat assessment after 1 week in 128 participants. ResultsA generalized partial credit model confirmed that the response options were ordered, and a parallel analysis using principal components confirmed that the scale was unidimensional. With allowance for 2 sets of correlated errors between pairs of items, a 1-factor graded response model fit the data. Discrimination parameters were approximately 1 or greater for all items. Scale reliability was 0.80 or higher across a broad range of severity (standardized scores −0.40 to 3.00). Test-retest reliability (absolute intraclass correlation) was good, at 0.89. RSES convergent validity was supported by substantial differences (Cohen d=0.74) between those with and without a diagnosis of respiratory disease (averaging 0.57 points, indicating that differences of this size or smaller represent meaningful differences). RSES scores also strongly differentiated those with and without COPD (d=1.52). Smokers’ RSES scores were significantly higher than former smokers’ scores (P<.001). Switchers’ RSES scores were significantly lower than smokers’ scores (P<.001) and no different from former smokers’ scores (P=.34). ConclusionsThe RSES fills an important gap in the existing toolkit of respiratory symptom questionnaires; it is a reliable and valid tool to assess respiratory symptoms in adult current and former smokers, including those who have switched to noncombusted nicotine products. This suggests that the scale is sensitive to respiratory symptoms that develop in smokers and to their remission when smokers quit or switch to noncombusted nicotine products intended to reduce the harm of smoking. The findings also suggest that switching from cigarettes to ENDS may improve respiratory health

Development and Validation of an Eight-Item Brief Form of the SOAPP-R (SOAPP-8).

Objective: Although the Screener and Opioid Assessment for Patients with Pain-Revised (SOAPP-R) has become a widely used screener for aberrant opioid-related behavior in adults, the length of the instrument may limit its utility. The purpose of the current study was to develop a short form of the SOAPP-R by retaining as few items as possible while maximizing predictive accuracy. Methods: Participants (N = 555), recruited from pain clinics, completed the 24-item SOAPP-R and participated in a five-month follow-up visit to evaluate aberrant drug-related behaviors. Opioid aberrant-related behavior was determined through self-report, physician report, and urine toxicology screen. The optimal subset of SOAPP-R items to predict aberrant opioid-related behavior was identified empirically by employing the LASSO selection method and the leave-one-out cross-validation (LOOCV) method offered in the GLMSELECT procedure in SAS 9.4 in conjunction with content expertise. Results: Eight items were identified before the selection method stopped. The receiver operating characteristic curve generated from the predicted probabilities from the model produced an area under the curve (AUC) value greater than the AUC value produced by the 24-item SOAPP-R total score and yielded a sensitivity of 0.74 and a specificity of 0.66. Conclusions: These results provide strong preliminary support for the SOAPP-8 as a brief screening tool of aberrant opioid-related behavior in chronic pain patients

Development of a Brief Version of the Current Opioid Misuse Measure (COMM): The COMM-9

Objective: The Current Opioid Misuse Measure (COMM) is a commonly used self-report instrument to identify and monitor aberrant opioid-related behavior in chronic pain patients on opioid therapy. However, the length of the COMM may limit its clinical utility. Additionally, this paper-and-pencil screener requires hand scoring, which increases paperwork and staff burden. Therefore, the current study presents development of the COMM-9, a brief electronically administered form of the COMM. Methods: Patients (N = 517) with chronic noncancer pain on opioid therapy completed the COMM. Patients were classified as either being positive or negative for aberrant drug-related behavior based on self-report data from a structured interview, physician-report data, and urine toxicology screen (the Aberrant Drug Behavior Index [ADBI]). COMM items with the strongest classification accuracy were identified using the LASSO method as the selection criterion in conjunction with the leave-one-out cross-validation method as the stop criterion. A sub-set of patients (n=55) completed a second administration of the COMM one week later to evaluate test-retest reliability. Results: Nine items were identified before the selection criterion stopped, and logistic regression was utilized to predict probabilities of positive ADBI from the 9 COMM items using all data and the cross-validation procedure. Receiver operating characteristic curves revealed high levels of classification accuracy that were essentially equivalent to the full COMM. Cut-points were identified to classify patients as having no/low risk, moderate risk, and high risk for aberrant opioid-related behavior. Test-retest reliability of the COMM-9 was comparable to the full 17-item COMM. Conclusions: This study presents the successful development of a brief electronic screener to identify current aberrant opioid-related behavior in chronic pain patients on long-term opioid therapy