TY - JOUR PY - 2016// TI - Interpreting change on the neurobehavioral symptom inventory and the PTSD checklist in military personnel JO - Clinical neuropsychologist, The A1 - Belanger, Heather G. A1 - Lange, Rael T. A1 - Bailie, Jason A1 - Iverson, Grant L. A1 - Arrieux, Jacques P. A1 - Ivins, Brian J. A1 - Cole, Wesley R. SP - 1063 EP - 1073 VL - 30 IS - 7 N2 - OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence and stability of symptom reporting in a healthy military sample and to develop reliable change indices for two commonly used self-report measures in the military health care system. PARTICIPANTS AND METHOD: Participants were 215 U.S. active duty service members recruited from Fort Bragg, NC as normal controls as part of a larger study. Participants completed the Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory (NSI) and Posttraumatic Checklist (PCL) twice, separated by approximately 30 days.

RESULTS: Depending on the endorsement level used (i.e. ratings of 'mild' or greater vs. ratings of 'moderate' or greater), approximately 2-15% of this sample met DSM-IV symptom criteria for Postconcussional Disorder across time points, while 1-6% met DSM-IV symptom criteria for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Effect sizes for change from Time 1 to Time 2 on individual symptoms were small (Cohen's d = .01 to.13). The test-retest reliability for the NSI total score was r = .78 and the PCL score was r = .70. An eight-point change in symptom reporting represented reliable change on the NSI total score, with a seven-point change needed on the PCL.

CONCLUSIONS: Postconcussion-like symptoms are not unique to mild TBI and are commonly reported in a healthy soldier sample. It is important for clinicians to use normative data when evaluating a service member or veteran and when evaluating the likelihood that a change in symptom reporting is reliable and clinically meaningful.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 1385-4046 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13854046.2016.1193632 ID - ref1 ER -