Validation of the structured interview section of the penn computerized adaptive test for neurocognitive and clinical psychopathology assessment (CAT GOASSESS)

• Published in: Psychiatry research Vol. 335; p. 115862
• Main Authors: Zoupou, Eirini, Moore, Tyler M., Kennedy, Kelly P., Calkins, Monica E., Gorgone, Alesandra, Sandro, Akira Di, Rush, Sage, Lopez, Katherine C., Ruparel, Kosha, Daryoush, Tarlan, Okoyeh, Paul, Savino, Andrew, Troyan, Scott, Wolf, Daniel H., Scott, J. Cobb, Gur, Raquel E., Gur, Ruben C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier B.V 01.05.2024
• Subjects: Anxiety; Anxiety Disorders - psychology; Assessment instrument validation; Clinical assessment; Computerized psychiatric assessments; Humans; Mood and cognition; Mood Disorders - diagnosis; Neurocognition; Psychiatric comorbidity; Psychiatric screen; Psychometrics; Psychopathology; Psychosis; Psychotic Disorders; Reproducibility of Results; Psychosis; Psychiatric screen; Computerized psychiatric assessments; Assessment instrument validation; Mood and cognition; Psychiatric comorbidity; Neurocognition; Clinical assessment
• ISSN: 0165-1781; 1872-7123
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2024.115862

•New computerized adaptive tests (CATs) for clinical assessments are needed.•We aimed to validate the CAT GOASSESS, developed based on item response theory.•The CAT GOASSESS was found to be a valid psychiatric assessment tool.•The CAT GOASSESS markedly reduced assessment duration across study groups. Large-scale studies and burdened clinical settings require precise, efficient measures that assess multiple domains of psychopathology. Computerized adaptive tests (CATs) can reduce administration time without compromising data quality. We examined feasibility and validity of an adaptive psychopathology measure, GOASSESS, in a clinical community-based sample (N = 315; ages 18–35) comprising three groups: healthy controls, psychosis, mood/anxiety disorders. Assessment duration was compared between the Full and CAT GOASSESS. External validity was tested by comparing how the CAT and Full versions related to demographic variables, study group, and socioeconomic status. The relationships between scale scores and criteria were statistically compared within a mixed-model framework to account for dependency between relationships. Convergent validity was assessed by comparing scores of the CAT and the Full GOASSESS using Pearson correlations. The CAT GOASSESS reduced interview duration by more than 90 % across study groups and preserved relationships to external criteria and demographic variables as the Full GOASSESS. All CAT GOASSESS scales could replace those of the Full instrument. Overall, the CAT GOASSESS showed acceptable psychometric properties and demonstrated feasibility by markedly reducing assessment time compared to the Full GOASSESS. The adaptive version could be used in large-scale studies or clinical settings for intake screening.