The ESS showed an adequate structural, internal, and criterion validity, both in the CMT and the RM, suggesting this as a useful and effective measure for assessing sleepiness in Portuguese adults.

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IntroductionPrevious research had shown the suitability of several questionnaires predicting the obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Measurement properties of an online screening questionnaire were studied.MethodsThe sample consisted of 184 Portuguese adults (89 men and 95 women); 46 of them were polysomnographically diagnosed with the untreated obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. The participants were assessed with an online questionnaire of sleep apnea risk, from University of Maryland.ResultsA principal component factor analysis was performed, revealing a single factor (49.24% of the total variance). Internal consistency was minimally adequate (α=0.74). The mean of inter-item correlation was of 0.35 (0.120.61), whereas the item-total correlations were considered good (0.520.81). The total score for patients was significantly higher than for healthy participants (p<0.000), but no significant statistical differences between severity groups of patients were found (p>0.05).Furthermore, the ability of the measure in discriminating between healthy subjects and OSA subjects was good. Overall data from the Rasch analysis was consistent with the guidelines of Linacre, scores show good model fit and psychometric adequacy.ConclusionsThe measure showed an adequate structural, internal and criterion validity, suggesting this as a useful and effective screening for sleep apnea risk in Portuguese adults.

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The neuropsychological consequences of opioid abuse are particularly evident in attention, memory and executive functioning, but it remains unclear whether these consequences persist in heroin users doing methadone in harm reduction programs and therapeutic community treatments. Thus, the current study aimed to assess these cognitive domains in distinct clinical groups of heroin users undergoing methadone maintenance. The sample consisted of 110 participants divided in four groups (low threshold methadone program, short-term community treatment, long-term community treatment, drug-free controls). These groups were compared regarding memory and attentional abilities. Multiple linear regressions were then conducted to obtain standardized effect sizes for significant comparisons. Results showed a better attentional and memory function in patients that were in opioid dependence treatment in community opposed to patients in harm reduction programs (p's<0.05). Standardized effect sizes suggest larger improvements in cognition in long-term heroin-abstinent individuals doing methadone maintenance. These results highlight the detrimental effect of heroin use in cognitive function, but also suggest that this decrement may be reversed during long-term opioid dependence treatment.