Targeted Testing News
NOVEMBER
NATIONAL ACADEMY OF NEUROPSYCHOLOGY
NAN 29th Annual Conference
New Orleans, Louisiana —November 11-14, 2009
Workshop
Saturday, November 14. 2009
1:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Special Topic Presentations #61
Evidence Based ADHD Assessment Using the PADDS.
Thomas K. Pedigo, Ed.D.
Savannah Child Study Center
We would like to invite all interested NAN members to attend this special topics workshop that will provide lots of information on new evidence based assessment techniques and also to get more information on the PADDS and how it integrates these processes.
The workshop details are:
This presentation will cover the merits of an Evidence Based Approach to ADHD Assessment, (EBA), developed specifically for use in clinical,
and primary care settings, The Pediatric Attention Disorders Diagnostic Screener (PADDS). While ADHD assessment
remains a complex issue, this presentation will clearly illustrate how, by using these procedures in conjunction with clinical
judgment, ADHD assessment need not be unnecessarily difficult or time consuming. We have adopted an evidence-based
procedure described by Frazier & Youngstrom (2006) utilizing diagnostic likelihood ratios with a nomogram to improve the
appropriateness of decisions based on the multiple sources of data, and how each data source can be allowed to contribute
to (or detract from, as the case may be) the prediction of the diagnosis. The primary focus will be demonstrating how using
these EBA methods allow us to combine multiple sources of evidence, in a statistically significant way, which improves
assessment accuracy. Specifically, we will explore how using the concepts of Sensitivity and Specificity, Positive and
Negative Predictive Power allows one to calculate Likelihood Ratios that can be applied with a nomogram. Such a process
helps determine post-test probabilities utilizing adjusted base rates (prevalence), and other ways to use current test metrics,
rating scales, and other instruments to calculate incremental validity. To illustrate how the incremental process is applied
we will review the PADDS Target Tests of Executive Functioning used incrementally with cross informant behavior
ratings with supportive psychometric review and case study.
NATIONAL ACADEMY OF NEUROPSYCHOLOGY
NAN 29th Annual Conference
New Orleans, Louisiana —November 11-14, 2009
Poster Session C
Friday, November 13, 2009
4:30 pm – 6:00 pm
Poster C16
Advanced Evidenced Based Practices in ADHD Assessment
Thomas K. Pedigo, Ed.D.
Savannah Child Study Center
OCTOBER
A very successful CE workshop presentation
to a very appreciative packed house.
We would like to thank the
American Psychiatric Nurses Association
and the 130+ members who attended the
workshop for their interest and enthusiasm.
APNA 23rd Annual Conference
October 7-10, 2009
204: CHILD & ADOLESCENT TRACK
204-1: Advanced Evidence Based Practice of ADHD Assessment
9:00am – 9:45am
Given the wide ranging approaches and prevalence rates found for ADHD diagnosis, there is a need to bridge medicine and mental health assessments. This session will highlight how integrating both approaches can improve upon and better standardize the diagnostic process. The session will demonstrate how to combine multiple sources of evidence, in a statistically significant way to improve assessment accuracy.
Speaker: Thomas Pedigo, Ed.D, NCSP
Target Tests of Executive Functioning in an investigative brain imaging study:
"Comparison of functional brain imaging profiles using Magnetoencephalography for children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and controls while completing performance-based tasks of executive functioning".
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS
Jason Washburn, Ph.D.
Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital
Jeffrey Lewine, Ph.D.
Alexian Brothers Center for Brain Research
CO-INVESTIGATORS
Caleb Peck, M.S.W. – Wheaton College
This is an exploratory research project to look for electrophysiological biomarkers of disrupted attentional processing in subjects with ADHD. The purpose of this pilot study is to examine functional brain imaging profiles in children diagnosed with non-comorbid Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), primarily inattentive type, while completing the Tests of Variable Attention and Pediatric Attention Disorders Diagnostic Screener computerized performance tasks
Neuroimaging studies indicate that executive functioning relies on a distributed cerebral network, not being solely restricted to the prefrontal cortex. Activation sites vary depending on the nature of the executive functioning task requested. MEG and EEG data will be collected during performance of specific attention tasks using the Pediatric Attention Disorders Diagnostic System and the Test of Variable Attention.
MEG/EEG: Whole Head MEG [306 channels, Neuromag/Elekta ] will be collected simultaneous with 19-60 channels of EEG [augmented 10-20 montage] at the Illinois MEG Center under the direction of Dr. Lewine. Both resting spontaneous data and stimulus-evoked data will be obtained.
Both MEG and EEG are completely noninvasive and risk-free methods used in standard clinical practice and research investigations of subjects with a wide range of neurological and psychiatric conditions.
Recent Peer Reviews
Review from The ADHD Report
Edited by Russell A. Barkley, PhD
Volume 17 Number 5, October 2009
Special Issue: Focus on Assessment
The Pediatric Attention Disorders
Diagnostic Screener (PADDS)
By: Steven Spector, Ph.D.
Eric A. Youngstrom, Ph.D.
Kristin D. Anderson, Psy.D.
Excerpt: "The unique features of the PADDS provide the opportunity to combine clinical and actuarial approaches by using a structured interview,
assessment of base rates, teacher and parent behavior rating scales, neurocognitive executive functioning assessments,
and actuarial scoring and report as well as rendering traditional standard score and cut-points".
Please note, it is currently available to The ADHD Report subscribers.
Review from the National Association of School Psychologist
Review published in the NASP Communique More… Please note, it is currently available to NASP members.
Review from the National Psychologist
Review of ADHD software packages
Computerized ADHD assessment revisited
By Larry Rosen, Ph.D.
In 1995, and again in 2001, I reviewed computerized ADHD assessment tools in The National Psychologist. It is now time for an update. Recent large-scale national studies estimate that between 7 percent and 9 percent of children and 4 percent of adults have been diagnosed with ADHD and roughly half are currently taking medication. Depending on the study, these estimates vary but the bottom line is that ADHD is a major problem...
The bottom line appears to be how you approach ADHD. If it is an attentional issue then you should consider either the CPT II or IVA+Plus. If you are more interested in whether there are cognitive executive function deficiencies, the PADDS is a good choice. They are all excellent at what they measure and well normed and documented. You can’t go wrong with any of them. In fact, my recommendation would be to use the PADDS coupled with one of the other two to get a comprehensive picture of a complex psychological issue...
More…
We have two major reviews coming up, we will post links to them on the website after they are published, check back often.
We have a fMRI Study starting soon.
School Psychologist Article
Pediatric Attention Disorders Diagnostic Screener for Children At-Risk
for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Summer 2008 Issue
By: Linda A. Reddy & Grace Fumari, Rutgers University
Thomas K. Pedigo, Pediatric & Adolescent Psychology P.C., Savannah, GA, &
Vann Scott, Armstrong Atlantic State University
ABSTRACT
This paper describes the methodology for screening Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
related symptoms in children using the Pediatric Attention Disorders Diagnostic Screener (PADDS). The PADDS is a new computerized multidimensional assessment approach of attention and executive function disorders for children (6 to 12 years). The PADDS possesses good estimates of reliability and validity...
PADDS demonstrates adequate convergent and discriminative validity. In a sample of 38 children, the PADDS Subtests, Brown Attention Deficit Disorder Parent and Teacher Rating Scales (Brown ADD Scale; Brown, 1996), and the Connor’s Continuous Performance Test II (CPT-II; Conners, 1997) were compared on the percentage of diagnostic utility and percentage of agreement. The Target Tests produced an overall hit rate of 94% in comparison to 68% for the CPT-II and 66% for the Brown ADD Scale...
More…
APA 2008 Presentation on Concurrent Validity of the PADDS
Concurrent Validity of the Pediatric ADHD Screener in ADHD Children
Linda A. Reddy, Ph.D., Erik Newman, MA., Thomas K. Pedigo, Ed.D.,
Vann Scott, Ph.D., & Grace Fumari, B.A. Rutgers University, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Pediatric & Adolescent Psychology, P.C., Armstrong Atlantic State University
ABSTRACT
The present study examined the concurrent validity of a new continuous performance test, the Pediatric Attention Disorders Diagnostic Screener (PADDS; Pedigo, Pedigo, & Scott, 2007) in relation to the Test of Variables of Attention (TOVA; Greenberg, 1991), the Conners’ Continuous Performance Test- II (CPT-II; Conners, 2000), and the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF; Gioia, Isquith, Guy, & Kenworthy, 2000) in three clinically referred samples of children 6 to 12 years of age. The PADDS is a recently published multidimensional continuous performance test comprised of three target tests designed to aid in the diagnostic decision making process for youth with attention disorders. To date, no published study has examined the concurrent validity of the PADDS. Concurrent validity was assessed through correlation coefficients, paired t-tests (p < .001), and Cohen’s d effect sizes across scales of similar constructs. In comparison to the TOVA, the CPT-II and the BRIEF Scales, the PADDS demonstrated strong concurrent validity between conceptually similar scales, providing initial evidence for the concurrent validity of the PADDS. Specifically, relative to other measures, the PADDS appears to have some unique scales designed to assess attention and various aspects of executive functioning...
More…
View Targeted Testing Press Release
Visit the new Evidence-based Assessment Blog, we invite you to contribute to it.
Our adolescent and adult versions of the Target Tests of Executive Functioning are nearing completion, including auditory versions of these measures. The new versions will be for 13-35 years of age and will compliment our current suite. They include a number of new cognitive measures including several levels of effort testing to assist in the identification of malingering. Check back often for important updates.
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