Daniel E. Stanczak

Neuropsychological Performance of Adults Evidencing Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is no longer believed to be a time-limited syndrome manifested in and restricted to childhood and adolescence. Many of the characteristics associated with the disorder continue in variable form into adulthood. This investigation focused on two measures sensitive to attention, cognitive flexibility, and visual and auditory distraction, to determine if individuals diagnosed with ADHD would perform poorly in comparison with normal control subjects. Forty-two subjects, 27 ADHD adults and 15 control subjects, were administered the Goldman-Fristoe-Woodcock Test of Auditory Discrimination (TOAD), and the Stroop Color and Word Test. The findings indicated that the TOAD Noise subtest significantly discriminated the subjects, resulting in an overall correct classification rate of 80.95%.

Development and initial validation of an Arabic version of the Expanded Trail Making Test: Implications for cross-cultural assessment

The performances of Sudanese subjects, both normal and brain damaged, on an Arabic version of the Expanded Trail Making Test were compared to those of normal and brain-damaged subjects from the United States, who completed the standard English version of this test. Preliminary psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the Expanded Trail Making Test were defined. Significant intergroup differences in performance were observed. Interestingly, the performances of Sudanese normals were found to be similar to those of U.S. brain-damaged subjects. The results are discussed in terms of reducing neuropsychological diagnostic errors attributable to ethnocultural factors.

The Expanded Trail Making Test ☆: Rationale, Development, and Psychometric Properties

Many procedures have been employed to determine the specific cognitive components necessary for successful Trail Making Test (TMT) performance. Yet, there is still considerable disagreement in the literature as to what these components might be. The present study explores an alternative methodology to address this problem. By systematically varying the stimuli within the TMT format, it may eventually be possible to isolate the cognitive demands of this test. As the first step toward this goal, two experimental forms of the TMT, forms X and Y, were developed and subjected to empirical validation. The results indicate that this Expanded Trail Making Test possesses adequate concurrent and criterion validity to support the proposed methodology. The results also suggest that the psychometric properties of the TMT format are robust to alterations in test stimuli. Secondary benefits of this methodology, in terms of explaining between-group variance and in terms of cross-cultural assessment, are discussed.

The Houston Conference revisited

This paper presents a review and critique of the Houston Conference on Specialty Education and Training in Clinical Neuropsychology, together with an informal summary of opinions of a number of neuropsychologists. Issues regarding the role of the Clinical Neuropsychology Synarchy (CNS) and the applicability of the conference policies are offered. Several deficiencies and limitations of the policy statement are discussed. An informal survey of neuropsychologists interested in the Houston Conference indicates rather different opinions concerning the training and education of neuropsychologists. It is our contention that the results of the Houston Conference can only be considered controversial at best and that there is still much diversity of opinion in the field regarding the proper training of neuropsychologists. We hope to stimulate further discussion and greater involvement of the profession before final criteria for education and training are developed and adopted.

Construct validity of the comprehensive level of consciousness scale: A comparison of behavioral and neurodiagnostic measures

The goals of the resent study are (a) to asses the construct validity of the Comprehensive Level of Consciousness Scale (CLOCS), (b) to examine the contribution of behavioral measures to prediction of outcome following severe insult to the central nervous system, and (c) to determine the unique proportions of outcome variance explained by neurodiagnostic and behavioral measures. The results provide support for the construct validity of the CLOCS. In addition, the data indicate that behavioral measures do indeed possess significant prognostic value above and beyond that of neurodiagnostic measures alone. Finally, a decomposition of outcome variance demonstrates that behavioral measures explain a unique proportion of outcome variance which is roughly comparable to that explained by neurodiagnostic procedures. These results are discussed in terms of their clinical and research implications.

Psychometric properties of the Mid-Range expanded Trail Making Test. An examination of learning-disabled and non-learning-disabled children

By systematically varying the stimuli within the Mid-Range Trail Making Test (MTMT), it may eventually be possible to isolate the cognitive demands of this test. Toward this end, the Mid-Range Expanded TMT (METMT) was developed by adding five new forms to the original forms A and B. To insure its appropriateness for clinical and experimental use, the current study sought to quantify the psychometric properties of this new test. The results indicate that the METMT is reliable and has adequate construct, criterion, and factoral validity. The results also cross-validated the findings of Davis et al. [J. Clin. Psychol. 45 (1989) 423.], suggesting that brief neuropsychological evaluations can effectively differentiate normal learners from learning-disabled children. The present study suggests that the MTMT is robust to alterations of its stimulus dimensions. Preliminary METMT normative data are presented.