Guus L. Van Heck

Psychometric qualities of a brief self-rated fatigue measure : The Fatigue Assessment Scale

OBJECTIVE The main aim of this study was to examine the dimensionality and psychometric qualities of a new 10-item fatigue measure, the Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS). METHODS As part of a longitudinal study, the respondents, all workers with at least 20 working hours per week, completed the FAS, four related fatigue measures, a depression questionnaire, and an emotional stability scale. RESULTS The FAS had a high internal consistency. The pattern of correlations and factor analysis showed good convergent and divergent validity. The FAS correlated strongly with the other fatigue scales. In a factor analysis of the five fatigue questionnaires, the FAS had the highest factor loading on a clear one-factor solution. Moreover, factor analyses revealed that fatigue, on the one hand, and depression and emotional stability, on the other hand, are separate constructs. Finally, it was shown that 8 out of the 10 FAS items were unbiased concerning gender; two had a uniform bias. CONCLUSIONS The FAS represents a potentially valuable assessment instrument with promising internal consistency reliability and validity. Gender bias in the FAS does not have consequences for use of the FAS.

Relations between negative affect, coping and emotional eating

The study was designed to examine the relations between negative affect, coping, and emotional eating. It was tested whether emotion-oriented coping and avoidance distraction, alone or in interaction with negative affect, were related to increased levels of emotional eating. Participants were 125 eating-disordered women and 132 women representing a community population. Measures included the Positive and Negative Affectivity Schedule (PANAS), the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS), and the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ). Both emotion-oriented coping and avoidance distraction were related to emotional eating, while controlling for levels of negative affect. Negative affect did not have a unique contribution to emotional eating over and above emotion-oriented coping or avoidance distraction. The findings suggest that emotional eating is related to reliance on emotion-oriented coping and avoidance distraction in eating-disordered women as well as in relatively healthy women.

Content validity, construct validity, and reliability of the WHOQOL-Bref in a population of Dutch adult psychiatric outpatients

In this study, the psychometric properties of a quality of life scale, the WHOQOL-Bref, were examined in a population of 533 Dutch adult psychiatric outpatients. Participants underwent two semistructured interviews in order to obtain Axis-I and II diagnoses, according to DSM-IV. Besides the WHOQOL-Bref they also completed questionnaires for measuring psychopathological symptoms (SCL-90) and perceived social support (PSSS). Scores on 25 of the 26 questions of the WHOQOL-Bref had a good distribution. Similar to previous findings, exploratory factor analysis revealed a four-factor structure. A priori expected associations were found between the domains of the WHOQOL-Bref, on the one hand, and dimensions of the SCL-90 and the PSSS-score, on the other hand, indicating good construct validity. The internal consistency of the four domains of the WHOQOL-Bref ranged from 0.66 to 0.80. Domain scores of the WHOQOL-Bref correlated around 0.92 with the WHOQOL-100 domain scores. Relatively low correlations were found between demographic characteristics (age and sex) and WHOQOL-Bref domain scores. It is concluded that the content validity, construct validity, and the reliability of the WHOQOL-Bref in a population of adult Dutch psychiatric outpatients are good. The WHOQOL-Bref, therefore, is an adequate measure for assessing quality of life at the domain level in a population of adult psychiatric outpatients.

Psychosocial Functioning following Bariatric Surgery

Morbid obesity is associated with an increased risk of morbidity and mortality as well as psychosocial problems and poor quality of life. The ultimate goal of bariatric surgery is not only reduced weight and reduction of co-morbidities, but also improved psychosocial functioning and quality of life. However, not all patients are successful. A systematic literature search of recent articles identified relevant variables reflecting postoperative psychosocial functioning. Most studies showed that bariatric surgery does not only lead to substantial weight reduction, but also to improvement or cure of physical as well as psychological co-morbidities. Although most studies are optimistic and report broad psychosocial improvement, a significant minority of patients do not benefit psychologically from surgery. Although there are mixed results, the overall improvements in psychosocial functioning provide additional justification for surgical treatment of morbid obesity.

Examination of the Dimensionality of Fatigue

Summary: This paper reports on two studies. The goal of Study I was to examine the dimensionality of existing fatigue scales. The aims of Study II were to construct a new self-report fatigue instru...

Psychological Profile of the Morbidly Obese

Background: In the surgical treatment of morbid obesity, surgery on its own represents only one element. In fact, bariatric surgery is a forced behavior modification; in addition to surgery, psychological factors play an important role in its results. Because of the importance of the psychological factors and the possibility to intervene in them, there is a need for a better understanding of morbidly obese patients, especially those who are candidates for bariatric surgery. Thus, this article reviews their psychological profile. Methods: A systematic literature search identified relevant variables reflecting personality and psychopathology, eating behavior, social problems, and quality of life. Results: Morbidly obese patients are described as depressed, anxious, having poor impulse control, low self-esteem, and impaired quality of life. Dieting, rigid control, and disinhibition characterize their eating behavior. This seems to be especially true for morbidly obese patients seeking surgical treatment for their obesity. Conclusion: The existing literature about the characteristics of the morbidly obese is far from conclusive; this may in part be due to the use of poor methods of assessment.Background: In the surgical treatment of morbid obesity, surgery on its own represents only one element. In fact, bariatric surgery is a forced behavior modification; in addition to surgery, psychological factors play an important role in its results. Because of the importance of the psychological factors and the possibility to intervene in them, there is a need for a better understanding of morbidly obese patients, especially those who are candidates for bariatric surgery. Thus, this article reviews their psychological profile. Methods: A systematic literature search identified relevant variables reflecting personality and psychopathology, eating behavior, social problems, and quality of life. Results: Morbidly obese patients are described as depressed, anxious,having poor impulse control, low self-esteem, and impaired quality of life. Dieting, rigid control, and disinhibition characterize their eating behavior. This seems to be especially true for morbidly obese patients seeking surgical treatment for their obesity. Conclusion: The existing literature about the characteristics of the morbidly obese is far from conclusive; this may in part be due to the use of poor methods of assessment.

Quality of life and related concepts in parkinson's disease : A systematic review

Several studies have investigated the quality of life (QOL) of patients with Parkinsons disease (PD). The purpose of this study was to review the conceptual and methodological quality of quality of life (QOL) studies among patients with PD and to identify factors associated with poor (HR)QOL. Computerized bibliographic databases were screened for publications from 1960 to January 2007. According to a list of predefined criteria, the methodological quality of the 61 studies, was moderate. The term ‘QOL’ was often used inappropriately. In fact, almost all studies in this review actually assessed health status (HS) instead of QOL. The functioning of patients with PD on physical, social, and emotional domains is affected by PD. Their HS seems to be lower when compared to healthy persons or patients with other chronic diseases. HS studies augment the insight in self‐perceived functioning. Therefore, HS is conceived as a valuable construct. However, QOL is also an important factor in health care. Attention towards QOL is needed in order to draw valid conclusions regarding a persons subjective experience of well‐being in a broad sense. In order to accomplish this, future studies should apply the QOL concept with more rigor, should use an adequate operational definition, and should employ sound measures.

Adult crying : A model and review of the literature

Crying is one of the most powerfully compelling forms of human emotional expression, and yet, until recently, crying has received little attention from behavioral scientists. In this article, a model of adult crying is presented that describes the situations and emotions that elicit crying and characterizes the possible moderating effects of environmental, personal, and cultural factors on crying. Empirical data relevant to the model are summarized, and areas in need of further investigation are identified. In addition, the question of whether and how crying may affect mood and health is considered. It is concluded that the literature is full of ungrounded speculation and that research until now has been rather unsystematic and not sufficiently theory driven. Recently available data, however, pave the way for formulating a more comprehensive theoretical framework for generating testable hypotheses about crying.

Prediction of depression in the postpartum period: a longitudinal follow-up study in high-risk and low-risk women

AIM The present study investigates both the antenatal prediction of the occurrence of depression during the first year postpartum and the course of depression in populations at different degrees of risk. METHODS In a population-based prospective study, 1618 women were screened during mid-pregnancy for risk factors with regard to depression. High-risk and low-risk women were identified, and depression (Research Diagnostic Criteria, RDC) was assessed at 32 weeks gestation and at 3, 6, and 12 months postpartum. RESULTS In the high-risk group (n=97), 25% of the women were depressed during the first year postpartum compared to 6% of the low-risk women (n=87). At 3 months postpartum, significantly more high-risk (17%) than low-risk women (1%) were depressed. While prevalence rates decreased after 3 months postpartum in the high-risk group, no significant fluctuations of prevalence rates were found in the low-risk group. Two risk factors were independently predictive of depression during the postpartum period: a personal history of depression, and high depressive symptomatology during mid-pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS Women at high risk and low risk for depression during the early postpartum period can be detected during pregnancy. High-risk women were only at particular risk during the first 3 months postpartum.

The World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment Instrument (WHOQOL-100): Validation Study with the Dutch Version

In this study, we examine the reliability and validity of a new quality-of-life (QoL) instrument, the Field Trial Version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life assessment instrument (WHOQOL-100). Two-hundred-and-twenty persons, 147 healthy individuals, and 73 chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) patients completed the WHOQOL-100 and a test battery of related measures. The WHOOQL-100 has a fairly good internal consistency and a good validity.