Diagnostic Checklist Research Articles

Recent Developments in the Diagnosis and Management of Patients with Transient Ischaemic Attacks and Minor Ischaemic Strokes

Appropriate management of the patient with transient focal neurological symptoms must start with accurate clinical diagnosis. Wider use of clear diagnostic criteria and symptom checklists, and better knowledge of the clinical features of the 'funny turns' which are not related to transient focal cerebral ischaemia could reduce the present variability in clinical diagnosis of transient ischaemic attacks. More accurate clinical diagnosis contributes to better selection of the most appropriate investigation strategy for each patient. A basic minimum standard of investigation is outlined and perhaps provides a suitable template for audit. Patients with transient ischaemic attacks which are definitely in the carotid distribution may be eligible for entry in trials of carotid endarterectomy. Prudent use of duplex ultrasound studies of the carotid arteries in patients with appropriate symptoms is an effective way to reduce the costs of investigations and their complications (i.e. the number of strokes associated with cerebral angiography). Digital venous subtraction angiography has, by comparison, many disadvantages as a screening tool. Advances in management include: recent statistical overviews which have emphasized the need to consider blood pressure and plasma cholesterol reduction in a large proportion of patients, and the value of long term anti-platelet therapy in reducing the risks of stroke, myocardial infarction and vascular death in both males and females. The value of anticoagulants in patients with atrial fibrillation and transient ischaemic attacks or minor stroke is being tested in current trials.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder- Residual Type

Evidence for the persistence into adult life of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has accumulated in publications of the past two decades. As reviewed here, retrospective and longitudinal data suggest that a residual type of ADHD (ADHD-RT) can be recognized. Diagnostic historical interview and checklist criteria, primarily the Utah set developed by Wender and colleagues, have been proposed. The difficulties of obtaining reliable and valid historical information, which are greater than those encountered in diagnosing childhood cases, add to the desirability of some direct examination for ADHD-RT. It is proposed herein that assessment of the neuropsychological domain of executive function--broader than, yet encompassing, several facets of attention--offers opportunities for documentation of the cognitive correlates of ADHD-RT, its responsiveness to therapeutic intervention, and clues as to its neurobiological foundation.

Reliability of checklist-guided diagnoses for DSM-IIIR affective and anxiety disorders

The test-retest reliability of DSM-IIIR diagnoses for affective and anxiety disorders was determined under clinical routine conditions in a psychiatric outpatient department. The sample consisted of 60 patients, and the Munich Diagnostic Checklists (MDCL) were administered for diagnostic evaluation and classification. Each subject was independently examined by two of four participating diagnosticians (two psychiatrists, two psychologists). Acceptably high levels of agreement were indicated by several statistics (including k) for most disorders. Reliability was analyzed for diagnoses, subclassifications, and symptoms. Reduced agreement was found only for dysthymia, agoraphobia, and social phobia. Major causes were information variance and weaknesses of operationalization. Overall results were satisfactory when compared with other reliability studies.

Development of Diagnostic Checklists for Use in Routine Clinical Care

To enhance diagnostic assessment in routine clinical care, the Munich Diagnostic Checklists have been developed for a systematic criteria-related evaluation of the most common psychiatric disorders according to DSM-III-R. Design, concept, and areas of application of the instrument are described. An initial test-retest study showed that satisfactory to excellent diagnostic agreement can be reached.

Diagnostic Assessment of Autism: A Review of Objective Scales

Five objective scales for diagnosis of autism are evaluated with reference to psychometric criteria of reliability (test-retest, interrater, internal consistency) and validity (content, construct, concurrent, discriminant). The five scales are the Diagnostic Checklist for Behavior Disturbed Children (Form E-2), Behavior Observation Scale for Autism, Behavior Rating Instrument for Autistic and Atypical Children, Autism Screening Instrument for Educational Planning, and Childhood Autism Rating Scale. Although all scales have strengths and weaknesses, the Childhood Autism Rating Scale emerges as the strongest scale in terms of demonstrated psychometric properties.

A validity analysis of selected instruments used to assess autism.

Differentiating autism from other handicapping conditions, especially mental retardation, has been a constant problem for public schools. This study investigated the effectiveness of three instruments to discriminate autistic from trainable mentally retarded children. The Autism Screening Instrument for Educational Planning, the Childhood Autism Rating Scale, and the Diagnostic Checklist for Behavior Disturbed Children, Form E-2 were administered to 20 autistic and 20 TMR students. Discriminant analysis was used to determine the best linear combination of scores that would separate the two groups of children. All three instruments were found to separate the two samples of children. However, the CARS and the ASIEP provided for a greater separation of groups.

An analysis of autism in fifty males with the fragile X syndrome.

Fifty males with the fragile X [fra(X)] syndrome, which we consider synonymous with the Martin-Bell syndrome, were identified by a chromosome analysis of patients with developmental delays or mental retardation and family studies of known fra(X) pedigrees. These males were evaluated for autism using three criteria: 1) the DSM III diagnostic criteria for Infantile Autism; 2) the Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC); and 3) the Diagnostic Checklist for Behavior Disturbed Children, Form E2. Sixteen percent of patients fulfilled all of the DSM III criteria for Infantile Autism and an additional 30% fulfilled criteria for Infantile Autism Residual State. Thirty-one percent of patients had autism using the ABC checklist but none of the patients fit the classical Kanner syndrome as described by the E2 questionnaire. Some autistic traits were seen in almost all of the 50 fra(X) patients, including eye avoidance in 90%, handflapping, handbiting or handstereotypies in 88%, and language delays with language peculiarities, usually echolalic speech, in 96%. A pervasive lack of responsiveness was seen in 18% at their present age and in 44% in earlier childhood only. Autistic symptoms are common in the fra(X) syndrome. Therefore, any patient with developmental delays and autism or autistic manifestations should have a chromosomal analysis, including fra(X) examination.

The assessment of autistic children: a selective review of available instruments.

This review examines five measures specifically designed to assess autistic symptomatology: Rimland's Diagnostic Checklist for Behavior-Disturbed Children, the Behavior Rating Instrument for Autistic and Atypical Children, the Behavior Observation Scale for Autism, the Childhood Autism Rating Scale, and the Autism Behavior Checklist. Available studies of reliability and validity issues are discussed. Reliability indices for all scales, except Rimland's Diagnostic Checklist, are at acceptable levels. Each scale has been found to suffer from a lack of demonstrated discriminant and/or content validity. Recommendations for future research are provided.

Development of a diagnostic checklist for low back pain patients.

The study of psychosomatic disorders implies that environmental variables, as well as attitudes and personality, can influence an individual's physical health. The present study developed a checklist composed of demographic and psychological variables to help to make diagnostic decisions related to chronic low-back pain. The need for the checklist stems from the situation that medical clinical evidence is often inconclusive to identify the etiology of patient complaints of low back pain. Cut-off scores on the checklist were able to discriminate with greater than 80% accuracy patients who received a specific medical diagnosis from patients who received a non-specific medical diagnosis. The findings provide additional support for procedures used to make difficult diagnoses of low back pain.

Educational Programs, Competency Development and Instruction

An instructional paradigm is described which starts with the student and then identifies three elements which if specified should unify the instructional process to yield a three-way consistency between what was intended, inaugurated, and achieved. The model is then illustrated with the development and discussion of diet history materials from the viewpoints of objectives, learning experiences, and evaluation. The material includes two diet history forms which shape the student's behavior, and a self scoring criterion reference diagnostic checklist. Although the forms were used by students their effectiveness was unclear because of procedure and sampling limitations, but the data did suggest that these forms aided the students in the acquisition of the desired skill.

The classification of childhood psychoses by numerical taxonomy.

Summary A form of numerical taxonomy was used to classify a group of 162 psychotic children on the basis of case history data supplied by the parents on the Rimland diagnostic checklist. The subjects were grouped into two classes. Class 1 included children with early onset of the psychosis who showed numerous withdrawal and aloneness symptoms and impaired communication; Class 2 included subjects with later onset whose symptoms were more heterogeneous and scattered than those in Class 1. The two classes differed significantly on 29 of the 67 attributes on which they were measured. The findings are interpreted as supporting a system of classification in childhood psychosis in terms of age of onset.

A note on the validity of the rimland diagnostic checklist

A note on the validity of the rimland diagnostic checklist

Childhood psychosis

In a study of 66 former child psychiatric patients, Form E-1 of Rimland's Diagnostic Check List (DCL) was found to be an effective instrument for differentiating autistic, other psychotic, and nonpsychotic disturbed children. Follow-up study revealed more favorable outcomes in nonpsychotic cases, with significant association between DCL scores and improvement following discharge. Scores indicative of autism on the DCL were also significantly associated with being of the Jewish faith.

Schneiderian first-rank symptoms and clinical prognostic features in schizophrenia.

The records of 78 male patients diagnosed as schizophrenic admitted to a closed psychiatric ward were reviewed. Patient age, race, social class, response to treatment, need for somatic treatment, disposition, and final diagnosis were related to the presence or absence of schneiderian first-rank symptoms and good or poor prognostic signs. Patients exhibiting first-rank symptoms and those exhibiting poor prognostic signs were found to be suffering from the same illness. They were younger, responded less well to treatment, required further hospitalization, and more frequently received high-dose neuroleptics than the clinically heterogeneous patients exhibiting good prognostic signs and without first-rank symptoms. The use of first-rank symptoms and prognostic signs as a diagnostic checklist of schizophrenia and as predictors of response to treatment and clinical outcome is discussed.

A reliability study of interparental agreement on the Rimland Diagnostic Check List.

A reliability study of interparental agreement on the Rimland Diagnostic Check List.

Velopharyngeal incompetence. Pseudo mental retardation as a consequence.

Velopharyngeal incompetence (failure of the soft palate to affect closure of the nasopharynx) may result in hypernasal or unintelligible speech, chronic otitis media with secondary conductive hearing loss, or even pseudomental retardation. Such devastating consequences make early diagnosis mandatory.Here is an excellent ca se illustration, review of the literature, and a diagnostic checklist for office use.

Diagnostic Check Lists of OrganizationTwo Standardized Check Lists for the Organization of Secondary Schools: One for Junior High School Grades and One for Senior High School Grades. Orie I. Frederick

Previous articleNext article No AccessEducational WritingsDiagnostic Check Lists of Organization Two Standardized Check Lists for the Organization of Secondary Schools: One for Junior High School Grades and One for Senior High School Grades. Orie I. Frederick J. Orin PowersJ. Orin Powers Search for more articles by this author PDFPDF PLUS Add to favoritesDownload CitationTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints Share onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail SectionsMoreDetailsFiguresReferencesCited by Volume 41, Number 10Dec., 1933 Article DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1086/439579 Views: 2Total views on this site Journal History This article was published in The School Review (1893-1979), which is continued by the American Journal of Education (1979-present). PDF download Crossref reports no articles citing this article.