Article

This study investigated the reliability and validity of the Barry-Albright
Dystonia Scale (BADS), the Burke-Fahn-Marsden Movement Scale (BFMMS), and the
Unified Dystonia Rating Scale (UDRS) in patients with bilateral dystonic cerebral
palsy (CP). METHOD: Three raters independently scored videotapes of 10 patients
(five males, five females; mean age 13 y 3 mo, SD 5 y 2 mo, range 5-22 y). One
patient each was classified at levels I-IV in the Gross Motor Function
Classification System and six patients were classified at level V. Reliability
was measured by (1) intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for interrater
reliability, (2) standard error of measurement (SEM) and smallest detectable
difference (SDD), and (3) Cronbach's alpha for internal consistency. Validity was
assessed by Pearson's correlations among the three scales used and by content
analysis. RESULTS: Moderate to good interrater reliability was found for total
scores of the three scales (ICC: BADS=0.87; BFMMS=0.86; UDRS=0.79). However, many
subitems showed low reliability, in particular for the UDRS. SEM and SDD were
respectively 6.36% and 17.72% for the BADS, 9.88% and 27.39% for the BFMMS, and
8.89% and 24.63% for the UDRS. High internal consistency was found. Pearson's
correlations were high. Content validity showed insufficient accordance with the
new CP definition and classification. INTERPRETATION: Our results support the
internal consistency and concurrent validity of the scales; however, taking into
consideration the limitations in reliability, including the large SDD values and
the content validity, further research on methods of assessment of dystonia is
warranted.

Langue : ANGLAIS