Psychology Commons^™

Exploring The Neurological Features Of Individuals With Germline Pten Variants: A Multicenter Study, Andrew Dhawan, Sarah Baitamouni, Daren Liu, Robyn Busch, Patricia Klaas, Thomas Frazier, Siddharth Srivastava, Sumit Parikh, Gary E. Hsich, Neil R. Friedman, David M. Ritter, Antonio Y. Hardan, Julian A. Martinez-Agosto, Mustafa Sahin, Charis Eng

2024 Faculty Bibliography

Objective: PTEN, a known tumor suppressor gene, is a mediator of neurodeve- lopment. Individuals with germline pathogenic variants in the PTEN gene, molecularly defined as PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome (PHTS), experience a variety of neurological and neuropsychiatric challenges during childhood, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, the frequency and nature of seizures and the utilization of allied health services have not been described. Methods: Young patients with PHTS and sibling controls were recruited across five centers in the United States and followed every 6–12 months for a mean of 2.1 years. In addition to the history obtained from caregivers, neurodevelop- …

Profiles Of Circumscribed Interests In Autistic Youth, Emily Spackman, Luke D. Smillie, Thomas Frazier, Antonio Y. Hardan, Gail A. Alvarez, Andrew Whitehouse, Mirko Uljarević

2023 Faculty Bibliography

Circumscribed interests (CI) encompass a range of different interests and related behaviors that can be characterized by either a high intensity but otherwise usual topic [referred to as restricted interests (RI)] or by a focus on topics that are not salient outside of autism [referred to as unusual interests (UI)]. Previous research has suggested that there is pronounced variability across individuals in terms of the endorsement of different interests, however, this variability has not been quantified using formal subtyping approaches. Therefore, using Latent Profile Analysis in a sample of 1,892 autistic youth (Mage = 10.82, SDage = 4.14; 420 females), …

The Autism Symptom Dimensions Questionnaire: Development And Psychometric Evaluation Of A New, Open-Source Measure Of Autism Symptomatology, Thomas Frazier, Anastasia Dimitropoulos, Leonard Abbeduto, Melissa Armstrong-Brine, Shanna Kralovic, Andy Shih, Antonio Y. Hardan, Eric A. Youngstrom, Mirko Uljarević

2023 Faculty Bibliography

Aim: To describe the development and initial psychometric evaluation of a new, freely available measure, the Autism Symptom Dimensions Questionnaire (ASDQ).

Method: After development and revision of an initial 33-item version, informants completed a revised 39-item version of the ASDQ on 1467 children and adolescents (aged 2-17 years), including 104 with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Results: The initial 33-item version of the ASDQ had good reliability and construct validity. However, only four specific symptom factors were identified, potentially due to an insufficient number of items. Factor analyses of the expanded instrument identified a general ASD factor and nine specific symptom …

Arriving At The Empirically Based Conceptualization Of Restricted And Repetitive Behaviors: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analytic Examination Of Factor Analyses, Mirko Uljarevi ́C, Emily K. Spackman, Andrew J.O. Whitehouse, Thomas Frazier, Wesley Billingham, Patrick Condron, Antonio Hardan, Susan R. Leekham

2023 Faculty Bibliography

An empirically based understanding of the factor structure of the restricted and repetitive behaviors (RRB) domain is a prerequisite for interpreting studies attempting to understand the correlates and mechanisms un- derpinning RRB and for measurement development. Therefore, this study aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of RRB factor analytic studies. Sets of meta-analyses were performed to examine (a) the factor structure of individual RRB instruments, (b) associations between RRB subdomains across instruments, and (c) the association between RRB factors and other variables. Searches for peer-reviewed articles evaluating the factor structure of the RRB domain were performed in PsycINFO …

Development Of Informant-Report Neurobehavioral Survey Scales For Pten Hamartoma Tumor Syndrome And Related Neurodevelopmental Genetic Syndromes, Thomas Frazier, Robyn M. Busch, Patricia Klaas, Katherine Lachlan, Shafali Jeste, Alexander Kolevzon, Eva Loth, Jacqueline Harris, Leslie Speer, Tom Pepper, Kristin Anthony, J Michael Graglia, Christal Delagrammatikas, Sandra Bedrosian-Sermone, Jenine Beekhuyzen, Constance Smith-Hicks, Mustafa Sahin, Charis Eng, Antonia Y. Hardan, Mirko Uljarevic

2023 Faculty Bibliography

There are few well-validated measures that are appropriate for assessing the full range of neurobehavioral presentations in PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome (PHTS) and other neurodevelopmental genetic syndromes (NDGS). As potential therapeutics are developed, having reliable, valid, free, and easily accessible measures to track a range of neurobehavioral domains will be crucial for future clinical trials. This study focused on the development and initial psychometric evaluation of a set of freely available informant-report survey scales for PHTS-the Neurobehavioral Evaluation Tool (NET). Concept elicitation, quantitative ratings, and cognitive interviewing processes were conducted with stakeholders and clinician-scientist experts, used to identify the most …

Development And Validation Of An Arabic Language Eye-Tracking Paradigm For The Early Screening And Diagnosis Of Autism Spectrum Disorders In Qatar, Fouad A. Al-Shaban, Iman Ghazal, I. Richard Thompson, Eric W. Klingemier, Mohammed Aldosari, Hawraa Al-Shammari, Fatema Al-Faraj, Saba El-Hag, Mohamed Tolefat, Mogahed Ali, Bisher Nasir, Thomas Frazier

2023 Faculty Bibliography

Abnormal eye gaze is a hallmark characteristic of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The primary aim of the present research was to develop an Arabic version of an objective measure of ASD, the “autism index” (AI), based on eye gaze track- ing to social and nonsocial stimuli validated initially in the United States. The ini- tial phase of this study included the translation of English language eye-tracking stimuli into stimuli appropriate for an Arabic-speaking culture. During the second phase, we tested it on a total of 144 children with ASD, and 96 controls. The AI had excellent internal consistency and test–retest …

Development Of Webcam-Collected And Artificial- Intelligence-Derived Social And Cognitive Performance Measures For Neurodevelopmental Genetic Syndromes, Thomas Frazier, Robyn M. Busch, Patricia Klaas, Katherine Lachlan, Shafali Jeste, Alexander Kolevzon, Eva Loth, Jacqueline Harris, Leslie Speer, Tom Pepper, Kristin Anthony, J Michael Graglia, Christal G. Delagrammatikas, Sandra Bedrosian-Sermone, Constance Smith-Hicks, Katie Huba, Robert Longyear, Leeann Green-Snyder, Frederick Shic, Mustafa Sahin, Charis Eng, Antonio Y. Hardan, Mirko Uljarevic

2023 Faculty Bibliography

This study focused on the development and initial psychometric evaluation of a set of online, webcam-collected, and artificial intelligence-derived patient performance measures for neurodevelopmental genetic syndromes (NDGS). Initial testing and qualitative input was used to develop four stimulus paradigms capturing social and cognitive processes, including social attention, receptive vocabulary, processing speed, and single-word reading. The paradigms were administered to a sample of 375 participants, including 163 with NDGS, 56 with idiopathic neurodevelopmental disability (NDD), and 156 neurotypical controls. Twelve measures were created from the four stimulus paradigms. Valid completion rates varied from 87 to 100% across measures, with lower but …

Brief Report: Validity And Reliability Of The Nigerian Autism Screening Questionnaire, Muideen O. Bakare, Thomas Frazier, Arun Karpur, Amina Abubakar, Moses Kachama Nyongesa, Paul Murimu Mwangi, Pamela Dixon, Izma Khaliq, Natalie K. Gase, Jonathan Sandstrom, Nwanze Okidegbe, Michael Rosanoff, Kerim M. Munir, Andy Shih

2022 Faculty Bibliography

Informant-report measures for screening symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are needed for low-resource settings if early identification is to be prioritized because early developmental concerns are likely to be expressed by parents and other caregivers. This paper describes the initial psychometric evaluation of the Nigeria Autism Screening Questionnaire (NASQ). Parents and other caregivers completed the NASQ on 12,311 children ages 1 to 18 in a Nigerian population sample as part of the World Bank National General Household Survey conducted in the country in 2016. Factor analyses indicated a parsimonious three-factor structure with social communication/interaction, …

Advocacy, Intervention, And Coping: A Qualitative Study Of High Functioning Autism From A Mother’S Point Of View, John Rausch

2021 Faculty Bibliography

Mothers’ views of their experiences with their child with high functioning autism (HFA) have not been thoroughly investigated in previous research. Thirty mothers of children with high functioning autism participated in a semi-structured interview in the present qualitative study. The collected data were generally coded into five broad categories: diagnosis, intervention, social dynamics, advocacy, and coping skills. Diagnosis of HFA typically was not made until ages nine to 13. The participants created individualized interventions that were reality and strengths-based. Social dynamics included both the child’s social interactions with peers and the social dynamics within the family system. The participants related …

Examining Dbt Day Treatment In Treating Mood Dysregulation Expectancy And Anxiety In Women Diagnosed With Eating Disorders, Shannon O'Mara, Leah Vandine, Anthony M. Tarescavage, Denise Ben-Porath

2021 Faculty Bibliography

Eating disorders (EDs), particularly anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN), are characterized by emotional and behavioral disturbances in eating patterns and body image that result in significant distress and functional impairment (as reported by APA, (APA dictionary of psychology, American Psychological Association, Washington, DC, 2015)). Ben-Porath and colleagues (Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy 40:115-123, 2010) have researched the effectiveness of dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) day treatment program in reducing negative mood regulation and anxiety among women diagnosed with AN, BN, and eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS). The current study extended past research on the effectiveness of DBT day treatment …

Explorations Of Classroom Talk And Links To Reading Achievement In Upper Elementary Classroo, Amanda P. Goodwin, Sun-Joo Cho, Daniel Reynolds, Stephanie Nunn, Rebecca Silverman

2020 Faculty Bibliography

The current study reports on a large-scale quantitative analysis of classroom talk practices and links to different measures of reading achievement within upper elementary classrooms. Data involving 745 fourth- and fifth-grade teachers and 18,844 students from the Measures of Effective Teaching (MET) study were used. Talk was quantified via various talk-related indicators from 2 observation protocols and a student survey. Dimensionality analyses suggest these indicators represent 4 factors consisting of teacher explaining, questioning, encouraging of student talk, and big-picture communicating. Links to 2 different standardized reading achievement measures were also modeled with improved ratings of teacher explanations and questioning predicting …

On Positioning, Deafness, And Educational Research: An Autoethnography On Deafness And Qualitative Research, Sara K. Parrish

2020 Faculty Bibliography

Combining autoethnography and disability studies in education, this article is an autoethnographic study of the different ways the author was positioned as abled and disabled by her institution’s review board when reviewing her qualitative research proposal. The author talks back to the prevailing understandings of disability and conceptions of research that emerged as she interacted with the review board. Through the article, the author problematizes the ableism that surfaced and seeks to redefine what it means to be a qualitative researcher in spite of and because of her deafness. She ends by arguing for a more inclusive understanding of what …

Co-Navigating The Complexities Of School Reform: The Establishment And On-Going Maintenance Of Relational Trust In School Reform Efforts, Sarah C. Lightener, Sara K. Parrish, Robert Drewry, Patricia L. Scharer

2020 Faculty Bibliography

The purpose of this research was to examine the ways in which the principal and literacy coach collectively developed and maintained relational trust in order to establish school literacy reform efforts. Drawing from a larger set of data, we employed qualitative methods to explore interviews and surveys from the principals and literacy coaches at two different schools who were able to implement literacy reform for several consecutive years. The relational trust established between the coach and principal enabled them to co-navigate issues that might have otherwise impeded literacy reform efforts in their school. Acting together, the principal and the coach …

Associations Between Mmpi-2-Rf Scale Scores And Institutional Violence Among Patients Detained Under Sexually Violent Predator Laws, Anthony M. Tarescavage, Allen Azizian, Charles Broderick, Peter English

2019 Faculty Bibliography

Sexually violent predator (SVP) laws allow the postprison civil commitment of sex offenders to a secure psychiatric hospital because of mental abnormality and posing a serious risk to public safety. Research on predictors of future institutional violence in this population is lacking because adequately sized samples are difficult to obtain. In the current study, we examined psychological predictors of future institutional violence in a sample of 171 psychiatrically hospitalized males detained or civilly committed under an SVP laws. Using the Minnesota Multiphasic-Personality Inventory-2–Restructured Form (Ben-Porath & Tellegen, 2008/2011), we found that scales assessing thought dysfunction, emotional dysregulation, and externalizing behaviors …

Examination Of Differential Validity Of Mmpi-2-Rf Scores By Gender And Ethnicity In Predicting Future Suicidal And Violent Behaviors In A Forensic Sample, Anthony M. Tarescavage, David M. Glassmire, Danielle Burchett, Martin Sellbom

2019 Faculty Bibliography

Given the diversity of individuals who undergo psychological assessment, examining whether cultural bias exists in psychological assessment instruments (i.e., differential validity) is crucial. This issue occurs when a measure systematically over- or underpredicts a criterion across demographic groups or is associated with the criterion unequally across the groups. We tested the differential validity of a widely used psychological test, the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF), as a function of gender (male, female) and ethnicity (Caucasian, African American, and Hispanic/Latino American) in large samples of forensic psychiatric inpatients. Regression models were estimated in a multigroup framework. The analyses yielded …

A Snapshot Look At Replication And Statistical Reporting Practices In Psychology Journals, Abdulrazaq Imam, Melissa Frate

2019 Faculty Bibliography

Current efforts started in 2012 by the Association for Psychological Science (APS) appear to be different from previous arguments against null hypothesis statistical testing (NHST), which remained largely rhetorical without specific actions for compliance by researchers in psychology. The APS advocacy involves specific promising implementation tactics. The present study examined the impact of those efforts on replication and statistical reporting practices in four psychology journals from 2011 and 2015. The results showed that amidst increased reporting of NHST statistics in 2015 compared to 2011 and an absence of power reporting in the behavioral journals, there was increased reporting of actual …

Descriptive Profiles Of The Mmpi-2-Restructured Form (Mmpi-2-Rf) Across A National Sample Of Four Veteran Affairs Treatment Settings, Paul Ingram, Anthony M. Tarescavage, Yossef S. Ben-Porath, Mary E. Oehlert

2019 Faculty Bibliography

This investigation provides descriptive information on substantive scale scores from the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) across four common service locations within Veterans Affairs (VA): PTSD clinical team, individual substance use treatment, primary medical care, and residential polytrauma rehabilitation. Test protocols for these four service settings are drawn from a national sample of all MMPI-2-RF and converted MMPI-2 administrations between January 1, 2008 and May 31, 2015 using the VA Mental Health Assist system at any VA across the United States. Frequency of substantive scale elevation and descriptive findings are examined. Results of this investigation suggest that there are …

Patterns Of Mmpi-2-Restructured Form (Mmpi-2-Rf) Validity Scale Scores Observed Across Veteran Affairs Settings, Paul B. Ingram, Anthony M. Tarescavage, Yossef S. Ben-Porath, Mary E. Oehlert

2019 Faculty Bibliography

The purpose of this investigation is to provide descriptive information on veteran response styles for a variety of VA referral types using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)-2- Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF), which has well-supported protocol validity scales. The sample included 17,640 veterans who were administered the MMPI-2-RF between when it was introduced to the VA system in 2013 until May 31, 2015 at any VA in the United States. This study examines frequencies of protocol invalidity based on the MMPI-2-RF’s validity scales and provides comprehensive descriptive findings on validity scale scores within the VA. Three distinct trends can be seen. …

Time Savings And Accuracy Of A Simulated Flexible And Conditional Administration Of The Mmpi-2-Rf In Presurgical Psychological Evaluations Of Bariatric Surgery Candidates, Anthony M. Tarescavage, Yossef S. Ben-Porath, Ryan J. Marek, Lana Boutacoff, Leslie J. Heinberg

2019 Faculty Bibliography

Background: The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2- RF) has empirically validated utility in presurgical psychological evaluations of bariatric surgery patients. However, clinicians may prefer shorter, symptom-focused measures. Objectives: The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the feasibility and potential administration time savings of a proposed flexible and conditional (FCA) administration of the MMPI-2-RF in presurgical evaluations of bariatric surgery candidates. Setting: Bariatric surgery candidates evaluated at a large hospital as well as a private practice in the Midwest. Methods: MMPI-2-RF scores were available for a total of 4099 adult bariatric surgery candidates from …

Using The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form Cutoffs To Predict Lack Of Pre-Surgical Exercise, Brooke R. Fusco, Ryan J. Marek, Anthony M. Tarescavage, Yossef S. Ben-Porath, Leslie J. Heinberg

2018 Faculty Bibliography

Previous studies suggest the importance of understanding what factors increase risk of lack of physical activity (PA) prior to bariatric surgery, which may increase risk of suboptimal postoperative outcomes. Therefore, the current study sought to explore which Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) scales were associated with lack of pre-surgical PA. The mean age of the sample (N=1170) was 45.97 years [standard deviation (SD)=11.59]. Bivariate correlations and relative risk ratios were utilized to examine associations between MMPI-2-RF scale scores and regular preoperative PA. Of the ten hypothesized associations, seven MMPI-2-RF scales in the internalizing and somatic domains were associated with …

Prospective Comparison Of The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (Mmpi-2) And Mmpi-2-Restructured Form (Mmpi-2-Rf) In Predicting Treatment Outcomes Among Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain, Anthony M. Tarescavage

2018 Faculty Bibliography

The purpose of the current study was to examine the relative utility of the most updated MMPI adult instrument, the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF), which was designed to address psychometric limitations of the MMPI-2. To this end, we compared mean scores and correlates of emotional distress treatment outcomes using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales in a sample of 230 patients (73 males, 157 females) who had completed an interdisciplinary chronic pain rehabilitation program. Structural equation modeling analyses indicated that higher scale scores from all the MMPI-2-RF substantive domains were meaningfully associated with worse emotional distress outcomes, whereas the …

Predicting Postprobationary Job Performance Of Police Officers Using Cpi And Mmpi–2–Rf Test Data Obtained During Preemployment Psychological Screening, Ryan M. Roberts, Anthony M. Tarescavage, Yossef S. Ben-Porath, Michael D. Roberts

2018 Faculty Bibliography

We examined associations between prehire California Psychological Inventory (CPI) and prorated Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory–2 Restructured Form (MMPI–2–RF) scores (calculated from MMPI profiles) and supervisor ratings for a sample of 143 male police officers. Substantive scale scores in this sample were meaningfully lower than those obtained by the tests’ normative samples in the case of the MMPI–2–RF and meaningfully higher in the case of the CPI (indicating less psychological dysfunction). Test scores from both instruments showed substantial range restriction, consistent with those produced by members of the police candidate comparison groups (Corey & Ben-Porath, 2014Corey, D. M., & Ben-Porath, …

Place Of Behavior Analysis In The Changing Culture Of Replication And Statistical Reporting In Psychological Science, Abdulrazaq Imam

2018 Faculty Bibliography

The “new” psychological science seeks to promote a culture of replication in response to rampant publication bias and some controversial failures to replicate. Two of the solutions adopted are the emphases on the New Statistics by Psychological Science and the growing use of replication repositories. Where does behavior analytic research fit in this effort? Although experimental and applied research methods in behavior analysis naturally are replication focused and replication friendly, trending growth in group designs in different areas of behavior analytic research suggests that we should be sharing the concerns in the broader psychological science community. What measures, if any, …

Avoiding Cognitive Biases In Clinical Decision Making: Commentary On “Evidencebased Assessment As An Integrative Model For Applying Psychological Science To Guide The Voyage Of Treatment”, Anthony M. Tarescavage, Yossef S. Ben-Porath

2017 Faculty Bibliography

No abstract provided.

School Psychologist Needs As Mental Health Consultants, Rebecca Yoder

Celebration of Scholarship 2012-2017

This study examines school psychologists 'perceptions of factors that influence their ability to function effectively as mental health consultants. Participants were asked to identify factors that impact their ability to provide mental health consultation in the schools; thus, allowing themes to develop about what school psychologists need to improve consultation when working with teachers of students with mental health issues. This information will be useful to both novice and experienced practitioners.

Ethical Issues In Dealing With An Online Reputation, Elizabeth V. Swenson

2017 Faculty Bibliography

Clients who are satisfied or dissatisfied by the service they receive from their psychologists may write an online review for a site such as Yelp or Healthgrades. This article discusses how to respond and how not to respond when the review is negative. The Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct (APA, 2010) are cited to show important ethical issues. Vignettes illustrate each relevant standard, covering ethical mistakes that might easily be made.

Beneficial Assessment Outcomes From Frequent Testing, Abdulrazaq Imam

Psychology

When faced with deadlines, people tend to procrastinate. Students do this by delaying study time until examinations are so close the only option left is cramming. This procrastination scallop is a well-established behavioral phenomenon in both human and infrahuman species. Distributed practice also has been demonstrated to be superior to massed practice in the cognitive literature. Frequent testing provides opportunities for distributed practice and rehearsals that fill the gap between acquisition and the big test, creating its own mini-scallops. In sections of Introductory Psychology, Research Design, and Learning and Behavior courses, standard pre-post testing was conducted at the start and …

Test Order Effects In Simultaneous Protocols, Abdulrazaq Imam, Timothy A. Warner

Psychology

Simultaneous protocols typically yield poorer stimulus equivalence outcomes than do other protocols commonly used in equivalence research. Two independent groups of three 3-member equivalence sets of stimuli were used in conditional discrimination procedures in two conditions, one using the standard simultaneous protocol and the other using a hybrid simultaneous training and simple-to-complex testing. Participants completed the two conditions in one long session in Experiment 1, but in separate sessions in Experiment 2. The same stimulus sets used in Experiment 1 were randomized for the two conditions in Experiment 2. Overall, accuracy was better with the hybrid than with the standard …

Effects Of Caro On Stimulus Equivalence: A Systematic Replication, Abdulrazaq Imam, J. V. Blanche

Psychology

n two experiments, we examined the disruptive effects of a "can't answer" response option (CARO) on equivalence formation. The first experiment was a systematic replication of Duarte, Eikeseth, Rosales- Ruiz, and Baer (1998), in which participants in a CARO group and a No- CARO group performed conditional discrimination tasks with stimuli using a paper- and- pencil format for training and testing of equivalence relations. The presence of the CARO led to the nonemergence of equivalence classes. In the second experiment, participants performed conditional discrimination tasks using standard matching- to- sample training and testing procedures on a computer with …

The Shaping Of A Saint-President: Latent Clues From Nelson Mandela's Autobiography, Abdulrazaq Imam

Psychology

Nelson Mandela's Long Walk to Freedom provides evidence organized in the form of antecedent-behavior-consequence units, which suggest that a shaping process effected during his many years of incarceration best describes the origins of the outcome represented by the political order in South Africa following his release. The analysis shows that Mandela's radicalism at the start of his imprisonment on Robben Island changed into a saintly presidential aura in the end, through a systematic selection process that actively involved Mandela himself and his political aspirations. The saintly qualities ascribed to Mandela after his release by many around the world are consistent …