Leeds Dependence Questionnaire

Raistrick, Bradshaw, Tober, Weiner, Allison, Healey | 1994 

A self-report instrument called the Leeds Dependence Questionnaire (LDQ) assesses the level of dependence in people with substance use disorders. The questionnaire was created by a research team at the University of Leeds in the UK and released for the first time in 1994.

The LDQ has 20 questions that look at many aspects of drug dependence, such as how much a person's drug use gets in the way of their daily lives, how strong their need is, how important the drug is to them, and how much they can control how much they use.

Usually given as a self-report questionnaire, the LDQ takes between 10 and 15 minutes to complete. The responses are evaluated from "not at all" to "always." The overall score, which reflects the intensity of the reliance, is created by adding the scores from each item.

The LDQ has been used in numerous research to evaluate the degree of dependence in people with substance use disorders and has been shown to have strong reliability and validity. The questionnaire has also been utilised in international studies and translated into several languages.

To sum up, the Leeds Dependence Questionnaire can help people with substance use disorders figure out how much they depend on a substance. It is a reliable and valid tool that gives useful information about the type and severity of addiction and can help with treatment planning and making decisions.

Reference

Raistrick, D.S., Bradshaw, J., Tober, G., Weiner, J., Allison, J. & Healey, C. (1994) Development of the Leeds Dependence Questionnaire, Addiction, 89, pp 563-572. 

The Modified Rogers Scale

It rates abnormalities in movement, volition, speech, and overall behaviour and aids in the distinction of catatonic signs from similar extrapyramidal side effects. It has eleven items, out of which three or more constitute a diagnosis of catatonic syndrome.

Items

The following are the items included in the Modified Rogers Scale.

1. Stupor
2. Mutism
3. Negativism
4. Opposition
5. Posturing
6. Catalepsy
7. Automatic obedience
8. Echophenomena
9. Rigidity
10. Verbigeration
11. Withdrawal.

For information on other scales used in catatonia, see Rating Scales for Catatonia. 

The Bush–Francis Catatonia Rating Scale 

The Bush–Francis Catatonia Rating Scale, has been widely recommended for its ease of use and reliability and validity. In this scale, the presence of two or more signs is suggestive of catatonia.

Is the most widely used instrument for catatonia. The Bush–Francis Catatonia Rating Scale has twenty-three items, and there is also a shorter, 14-item screening version. The reliability and validity of the Bush–Francis Catatonia Rating Scale has been established (Bush et al, 1996). The screening section marks items #1-14 as either “absent” or “present.” The full-scale rates items #1-23 on a scale of 0-3. The ratings are made based on the observed behaviours during the examination, except for completing the items for “withdrawal” and “autonomic abnormality,” which may be based upon either observed b behaviours/or chart documentation. Rate items only if well defined. If uncertain, rate the item as “0”.

Using the Bush–Francis Catatonia Rating Scale, 32% of 225 patients with chronic schizophrenia meet the criteria for catatonia. See Ungvari et al., 2005. 

It has two subscales

1. A screening instrument with fourteen items that are marked as either present or absent.  

2. The full severity scale with nine extra items scored zero to three.

Ungvari GS, Leung SK, Ng FS, Cheung HK, Leung T. Schizophrenia with prominent catatonic features ('catatonic schizophrenia'): I. Demographic and clinical correlates in the chronic phase. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2005;29(1):27-38. doi: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2004.08.007

SCAS Preschool Scale

A validated, parent-rated version of SCAS is appropriate for youth ages 3-6. The measure comprises six subscales. Clinicians can administer this measure in five to ten minutes. They rated each item on a 4-point Likert scale from zero (“Never”) to three (“Always”). 

The youth self-report version shows high internal consistency (α = .92-.93), adequate test-retest reliability over six months (α=.60), and high concurrent validity with the RCMAS (Reynolds & Richmond, 1978; Spence, 1998). The parent-report version correlates significantly with the youth self-report version and the DSM-IV-TR criteria of the anxiety disorders associated with the SCAS subscales. The SCAS is available in over 20 languages (e.g., Chinese, Spanish, Arabic, and Japanese). 

 Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale (SCAS)

A 44-item measure with a self-report and a parent-report version for youths aged 7—19. It assesses symptoms associated with:

1. GAD, 

2. Panic disorder

3. Social phobia, 

4. Seasonal affective disorder

5. Obsessive-compulsive disorder

6. Physical injury fears

Uses

The SCAS can be used as 

1. A screening tool 

2. A diagnostic tool

3. Monitoring symptom changes over time.

Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT): Brief Description and Interpretation

Brief Description and Interpretation of Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test 

Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) was developed by the WHO; the total number of items is 10. The maximum score of each item is 4. The minimum is 0, so the total score is 10x4=40, and the minimum is 0. Item 0 to 8 has a scoring of 0,1,2,3,4 i.e. five anchors while item 8 and nine has 3 anchors each with scoring of 0,2,4. It is used to assess alcohol consumption, drinking behaviours, and alcohol-related problems. It is most suited for primary care physicians and shows good sensitivity and specificity. If the score is above 8.

Download the AUDIT

Symptoms and Functioning Severity Scale (SFSS): A Summary Scoring and Interpretation

Symptoms and Functioning Severity Scale (SFSS)

The key measure of therapy success is the Symptoms and Functioning Severity Scale (SFSS).1 

This scale examines the intensity of general symptoms and symptoms related to children and adolescents' most prevalent mental health problems (ADHD, CD, ODD, depression, and anxiety). 

It comprises a 5-point Likert scale for each item ("never," "rarely," "occasionally," "frequently," and "very often"). A total score, an externalising score, and an internalising score are all provided by the SFSS. Youngster, caregiver, and clinician versions are available.  A 26-item version (SFSS-Full) and 2 other variations (SFSS Short Form A and Short Form B) are the different versions. Therapists apply these later 2 versions during alternate therapy sessions to assess change over a short period (i.e., weekly or biweekly sessions).

Bibliography

1. Bickman L, Athay M, Riemer M, et al. Manual of the Peabody treatment progress battery. Nashville, TN: Vanderbilt University. 2010;

Clock Drawing Test: A Neuropsychological Assessment Tool

Introduction

The Clock Drawing Test (CDT) is a simple and quick neuropsychological assessment tool that can help identify cognitive impairments in patients with conditions such as dementia, stroke, and brain injury. The test has been used for over 50 years as a quick and easy way to assess various aspects of cognitive function, including visuospatial ability, executive function, and language skills.

How does the CDT work?

The test is conducted by asking the patient to draw a simple clock face on a blank piece of paper and place the numbers in the correct order. The patient is then asked to place the hands on the clock to indicate a specific time, such as 10 after 11. The clock drawing can be scored based on specific criteria, including the presence of numbers and the placement of the hands.

What does the CDT measure?

The CDT is used to assess several aspects of cognitive function, including visuospatial ability, executive function, and language skills. For example, it can help assess the patient's ability to understand the task, plan and organize their actions, and accurately draw the clock face and hands. Additionally, the CDT can help identify impairments in the patient's ability to understand and use language, as well as their ability to manipulate abstract concepts and complete complex tasks.

Validity and reliability of the CDT

The CDT has been found to have good validity and reliability as a neuropsychological assessment tool. Numerous studies have demonstrated that the CDT is a reliable and valid indicator of cognitive function in patients with conditions such as dementia, stroke, and brain injury (1, 2). Additionally, the CDT has been shown to have good inter-rater reliability, meaning that different evaluators tend to score the test similarly (3).

Conclusion

The Clock Drawing Test is a useful and simple neuropsychological assessment tool that can provide valuable information about cognitive function in patients with conditions such as dementia, stroke, and brain injury. The test is quick and easy to administer, and has been found to have good validity and reliability. If you suspect that you or a loved one may have cognitive impairments, the CDT may be a helpful tool to assess your cognitive abilities.

References:

1. Folstein MF, Folstein SE, McHugh PR. "Mini-Mental State": A Practical Method for Grading the Cognitive State of Patients for the Clinician. Journal of Psychiatric Research. 1975;12(3):189-198. doi:10.1016/0022-3956(75)90026-6.
2. Brucki SM, Nitrini R, Caramelli P, Bertolucci PH, Okamoto IH. Sugestões para o uso do mini-exame do estado mental no Brasil. Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2003;61(3B):777-781.
3. Odlaug BL, Grant JE. The Clock Drawing Test in pathological gambling. J Gambl Stud. 2009;25(1):53-62. doi:10.1007/s10899-008-9079-x.