Citation

Donnelly KT, Donnelly JP, Dunnam M, Warner GC, Kittleson CJ, Constance JE, Bradshaw CB, Alt M. J. Head Trauma Rehabil. 2011; 26(6): 439-453.

Affiliation

Behavioral Health Careline, VA Western New York Healthcare System-Buffalo (Dr K. T. Donnelly), Department of Counseling, School and Educational Psychology, University at Buffalo/SUNY (Dr J. P. Donnelly), Behavioral Health Careline, Stratton VA Medical, Albany, New York (Dr Dunnam), Behavioral Health Careline, Canandaigua VA Medical Center (Dr Warner), Behavioral Health Careline, Bath VA Medical Center (Dr Kittleson), Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Behavioral Health Careline, Syracuse VA Medical Center (Dr Constance), Behavioral Health Careline, Syracuse VA Medical Center (Dr Bradshaw), and Behavioral Health Careline, VA Western New York Healthcare System-Buffalo (Ms Alt).

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/HTR.0b013e3182005de3

PMID

21386716

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:: To provide item analyses, estimates of temporal reliability and internal consistency, andexamination of the sensitivity and specificity of a traumatic brain injury-screening tool. PARTICIPANTS:: Fivehundred veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan enrolled in the study, approximately half of whom (248) volunteered. Theremaining 252 participants were referred to Veteran Affairs (VA) neuropsychology or polytrauma clinics. DESIGN:: Thispsychometric study constitutes part of a larger 4-year, multisite prospective cohort study of veterans returning from Iraq andAfghanistan. SETTING:: Five VA medical centers and one VA outpatient clinic. MAIN MEASURES:: Veterantraumatic brain injury screening tool (VATBIST), a structured diagnostic interview for traumatic brain injury; amilitary-oriented posttraumatic stress disorder checklist. RESULTS:: The VATBIST appeared to have high-internalconsistency (0.77) and test-retest reliability (0.80), high sensitivity (0.94) and moderate specificity (0.59). Diagnostic odds ratiosfor the screening tool ranged from 12.6 for the total sample to 24, when veterans with probable posttraumatic stress disorderwere excluded from analysis. CONCLUSIONS:: The VATBIST appears to be a reliable and valid instrument. The presence ofsignificant posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, however, reduces the accuracy of the measure and highlights the need forcareful clinical follow-up of persons who screen positive.

Language: en