Purpose/objective: The aim of this article is to evaluate the measurement invariance (MI) of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) in a sample of individuals during the first 2 years after traumatic brain injury (TBI). MI was examined among racial/ethnic groups and over time to determine the utility of the PHQ-9 across these dimensions.
Research method/design: In total, N = 3,227 (20% of the total sample) at 1 year and N = 3,153 (19% of the total sample) at 2 years were included for cross-sectional analyses. For the longitudinal analyses, participants with the PHQ-9 at both time points (N = 2,234; 14% of the total study sample) were included.
Results: Results were that the PHQ-9 is fully invariant and maintains its unidimensional factorial structure across racial/ethnic groups during the first 2 years after TBI, suggesting the scale measures the same construct equally well for participants from each group.
Conclusion/implications: Based on these results, clinicians should feel confident using the PHQ-9 with diverse TBI patient populations, and researchers can reliably and validly employ it in TBI studies across racial/ethnic groups in the United States. Given the high rates of depression among individuals after TBI and its negative impact on their lives, this instrument will continue to be a key tool to measure the prognosis and success of rehabilitation programs. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).
Objective: Clinical trials often focus on symptom reduction as a primary outcome, overlooking positive psychology factors of potential importance although many individuals can and do live well with pain. The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Psychosocial Illness Impact-Positive (PIIP) scale assesses perceptions of adaptive psychosocial functioning (e.g., coping and meaning-making) after illness onset. This study evaluated the effects of hypnosis (HYP), mindfulness meditation (MM), and pain psychoeducation (ED) on PIIP scores, using data from a completed randomized clinical trial (RCT) of complementary and integrative chronic pain interventions. We hypothesized that treatment effects on PIIP would mirror the RCT's primary pain intensity outcome, such that HYP and MM, relative to ED, would lead to greater improvements in PIIP during trial follow-up.
Method: Our sample included 262 Veterans who completed the PROMIS PIIP Short-Form 8a at pre- and posttreatment and at 3- and 6-month follow-up. Linear regression was used to test between-group differences in PIIP at each time point, controlling for baseline PIIP, average pain intensity, and baseline perceptions of prepain psychosocial functioning.
Results: There were no significant between-group differences in PIIP at posttreatment or 3-month follow-up. However, group differences emerged at 6-month follow-up: individuals randomized to MM and HYP showed improved PIIP relative to those randomized to ED.
Conclusions: Positive psychosocial outcomes are a mostly untapped territory in clinical trials of pain interventions. The present work highlights the potential benefits of including positive psychology concepts in both research and clinical contexts, emphasizing the importance of understanding human flourishing in the presence of illness and disability. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).
Purpose: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can lead to impairments in motor and cognitive function and reduced life satisfaction. TBI is one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide and disproportionately affects Native Americans, who have the highest rates of TBI among all races in the United States and elevated likelihood for fatality and severe complications. This study investigated whether disparities in functional and life satisfaction outcomes exist longitudinally over the 5 years after complicated mild, moderate, or severe TBI between Native Americans and White individuals; it further explored which demographic and injury-related covariates account for them.
Research method: The current study used a subsample of the national TBI Model Systems Database of 80 demographically and injury-severity matched Native American and White pairs (total n = 160).
Results: A series of longitudinal hierarchical linear models found that Native Americans experienced significantly lower Functional Independence Measure Cognitive and Motor trajectories than Whites; however, life satisfaction was comparable. Native Americans had declining cognitive function over time relative to a slight increase in White individuals. This differential movement dissipated with the addition of employment status at the time of injury and type of health insurance.
Conclusions: These results demonstrate a profound need to further investigate the cultural and contextual variables unique to Native Americans that underlie these differences and highlight the importance of culturally responsive treatment and rehabilitation in bridging the gap in recovery. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).
Purpose/objective: Nutrition knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors have important implications for managing and preventing chronic and injury-related secondary conditions in persons with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D). Yet, the unique dietary and nutritional needs and recommendations specific to individuals with SCI/D and their eating beliefs and behaviors have been understudied. Aim is to describe nutrition and eating beliefs and behaviors from the perspectives of individuals with SCI/D.
Research method/design: Descriptive qualitative design using in-depth semistructured interviews with a national sample of veterans with SCI/D (n = 33). Audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim transcripts were coded and analyzed using thematic analysis.
Results: Participants were male (61%), aged 29-84 years, and 55% had tetraplegia. Five key themes were identified: extreme fasting/caloric restriction, perceived healthy eating behaviors, perceived unhealthy eating behaviors, modified eating behaviors due to SCI/D-related symptoms, and food/preparation choices based on abilities/independence and access.
Conclusions/implications: Nutrition among veterans with SCI/D may be impacted by many factors, such as nutrition knowledge and beliefs/behaviors about "healthy" and "unhealthy" nutrition, fasting, caloric restriction, imbalanced intake of macro- and micronutrients, overconsumption relative to energy needs, injury-related secondary complications, postinjury body composition and function changes, impairments related to satiety and hunger signals, and difficulty in obtaining and preparing food. Study findings provide many areas that would benefit from intervention. Findings can be used to inform ideal nutrition and healthy eating beliefs and behaviors which are important because nutritional inadequacies can lead to diet-related diseases, may exacerbate SCI secondary conditions, and lead to poor overall health. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).