Objective: The Minimal Assessment of Cognitive Function in Multiple Sclerosis (MACFIMS) is a consensus-based collection of neuropsychological tests that evaluate cognitive functioning in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). The tests are typically scored using each respective published test manual, leaving the examiner to make interpretations from norms derived from different American populations. Given demographic differences, this may lead to misinterpretation of findings in Canadians. Our goal was to establish both discrete and regression-based normative data for the MACFIMS based on a largely co-normed Canadian population to allow for improved psychometric interpretation. Methods: MACFIMS data sets were aggregated from across three different Canadian cities (Ottawa, Toronto, and London), yielding a total of 330 healthy control participants from four different studies evaluating cognition in individuals with MS. Given the variety of contributing studies, there was variability in terms of the number of participants completing each measure. Results: Both age-based discrete normative data and demographically adjusted (sex, age, and education) regression-based formulae were established. The demographic variables varied in their contribution to each MACFIMS test in the regression models, predicting 0 to 18% of the variance. Conclusions: Provision of these regression-based formulae will allow for more accurate interpretation of Canadian-derived MACFIMS scores by allowing clinicians to correct for all relevant demographic variables simultaneously, leading to improved clinical decision making for individuals with multiple sclerosis. . Les tests sont habituellement notés selon les directives contenues dans les manuels publiés pour chacun des tests, laissant l'examinateur en faire l'interprétation à partir de normes provenant de différentes populations américaines. Étant donné l'existence de différences démographiques entre différentes populations, cette façon de procéder peut mener à une interprétation erronée des observations chez des sujets canadiens. Le but de notre étude était d'établir des données normatives discrètes ainsi que des données s'appuyant sur une analyse de régression pour le MACFIMS, basées sur une population canadienne de référence, afin d'en améliorer l'interprétation psychométrique. Méthodologie: Des ensembles de données du MACFIMS provenant de trois villes canadiennes (Ottawa, Toronto et London) ont été regroupés, soit au total les données de 330 sujets témoins en bonne santé qui avaient participé à 4 études différentes évaluant la fonction cognitive d'individus atteints de SP. Étant donné la diversité des études, le nombre de participants qui avaient complété chaque mesure pouvait varier. Résultats: Nous avons établi des formules basées sur des données normatives discrètes, selon l'âge, et sur des données ajustées au point de vue démographique (le sexe, l'âge et le niveau de scolarité) à l'analyse de régression. La contribution des variables démographiques à chaque test du MACFIMS...
We evaluate 11 Rorschach variables with potential for assessing grandiosity and narcissism. Seven of these variables were drawn from previous literature: Omnipotence, Idealization, Reflection, Personal Knowledge Justification, Exhibitionism, Magic, and Elevated Mood States; four were developed for this research: Expanded Personal Reference, Narcissistic Devaluation, Narcissistic Deflation, and Narcissistic Denial. Using Rorschach protocols from American normative adults and Italian adult outpatients, the dimensional structure of these variables was evaluated by principal components analysis, and validity was tested by correlations with clinician ratings of narcissism on two scales from the Shedler-Westen Assessment Procedure-200 that were made after at least five sessions with the primary clinician. A cohesive dimension was found in both data sets defined by Expanded Personal Reference, Personal Knowledge Justification, Omnipotence, and Idealization, and it was meaningfully correlated with the clinician ratings of narcissism ( M r = .41). Implications of the findings include the applicability of these variables in clinical practice and research for assessing narcissistic personality dynamics.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.