Article

OBJECTIVES: To provide a first evaluation of the Rasch-Based Depression Screening
(DESC) in consecutive patients with neurologic disorders. DESIGN: Cross-sectional
study. SETTING: Hospital specializing in neurologic disorders. PARTICIPANTS:
Eligible patients (N=323; mean age +/- SD, 53.4+/-17.2y; 49.3% women) age 18
years and older. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: DESC with
2 parallel versions. RESULTS: Both versions of the DESC showed good item
separation (DESC-I=4.96; DESC-II=4.94) and person separation (DESC-I=2.01;
DESC-II=2.14) as well as item separation reliability (DESC-I=.96; DESC-II=.96)
and person separation reliability (DESC-I=.80; DESC-II=.82). All items fit the
Rasch model (infit and outfit mean squares < or =1.3). There were no signs of
violation of unidimensionality. One item of DESC-I showed differential item
functioning because of age and 1 item because of sex. Parallel test reliability
of the 2 DESC forms was r equal to .92. CONCLUSIONS: The DESC shows good
psychometric characteristics that suggest high psychometric quality of the
instrument in patients with neurologic disorders. Differential item functioning
on single items needs further examination but should not substantially interfere
with the valid interpretation of DESC sum scores.

Langue : ANGLAIS