Development of the DORI-TBI: An Investigation to Develop a New Screening Measure to Determine Consultation with a School-Based Brain Injury Resource Team

Brain injury is the leading cause of disability and death in children in the United States. Student re-entry into the school setting following a traumatic brain injury is crucial to student success. Multidisciplinary teams within the school district comprised of individuals with expertise in brain injury are ideal in implementing student specific treatment plans given their specialized training and wide range of expertise addressing student needs. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to develop and initially validate a quantitative instrument that school personnel can use to determine if a student, identified as having a traumatic brain injury, will benefit from district-level consultation from a brain injury team. Three studies were designed to investigate the research questions. In study one, the planning and construction of the DORI-TBI was completed. Study two addressed the content validity of the DORI-TBI through a comparison analysis with other referral forms, content review with experts in the field of TBI, and cognitive interviews with professionals to test the usability of the new screening tool. In study three, a field administration was conducted using vignettes to measure construct validity. Results produced a valid and reliable new screening instrument that can aid school-based teams to more efficiently utilize district level consultation with a brain injury support team.

The Impact of Repetitive Concussions In High School Athletes

Concussive injuries appear to be becoming a more common occurrence among athletes. While many studies have assessed the short-term and long-term effects of concussive injuries, fewer studies have specifically addressed the impact of multiple concussive injuries within a high school population. Through the use of the Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing measure (ImPACT), this study investigated differences in a sample of 946 high school athletes with varying concussive histories (multiple concussions vs. single concussion vs. no concussion) at baseline and following sustaining a concussive injury. An additional analysis was conducted with athletes who obtained two concussions within the study to assess for trends in symptomology between their first and second injuries. For both baseline and study concussed athletes, athletes with multiple concussive injuries did not exhibit significantly elevated self-report symptoms nor decreased ImPACT composite scores compared to the other groups. Analysis of data from athletes who sustained more than one concussion within the study, revealed an increase in self-report symptoms and a decrease in ImPACT performance from time 1 to time 2. However, these changes were small in magnitude and were not consistently exhibited across the variables under investigation. Overall, this study did not find compelling evidence of increased symptomological patterns or decreased functioning for multiple concussed athletes as compared to peers.

Utilizing Evidence-Based Psychology Practice in the University of Denver's Professional Psychology Center: A Proposal

As acceptance of the Evidence-based Psychology Practice (EBPP) model continues to grow (Pagoto, Spring, Coups, Mulvaney, Coutu, & Ozakinci, 2007), it seems pertinent to explore how this model can be applied in different settings. This topic is timely as practitioners in the field are being held ever more accountable for the efficacy of the treatments they employ (Pagoto et al., 2007). Increased scrutiny has resulted in a need to integrate research into practice in order to ensure continued relevance in the ever-changing realm of American health care (Luebbe, Radcliffe, Callands, Green & Thorn, 2007; Collins, Leffingwell & Belar, 2007; Chwalisz, 2003). This paper explores how the requirements set forth by the American Psychological Association Presidential Task Force on Evidence-Based Practice (2006) can be implemented at the University of Denver's (DU) Professional Psychology Center (PPC), a training clinic for students enrolled in the Psy.D. program at DU's Graduate School of Professional Psychology (GSPP). In doing so, the methods employed by Collins et al. (2007) at Oklahoma State University (OSU) are used as a template and modified to accommodate differences between these two institutions.

Program Evaluation of an After-School Socialization Group Program

Use of evidence-based practice is becoming more expected and necessary for mental health practitioners. This allows for proof, accountability, and rigorous standards to be upheld, facilitates healthcare reimbursement, and provides a wider range of services to more clients. Appropriate monitoring and outcome measurement is essential to determine the effectiveness of a given intervention. An organization providing group social skills interventions for children 7-18 years was analyzed to facilitate the best plan for evaluating treatment effectiveness. Measurable goals and objectives consistent with the organizations mission and values were developed. Appropriate social skills measurement tools were identified. Strengths and weaknesses of each measure were compared, and existing literature was reviewed to ensure cohesion between this evaluation and current standards in literature. Parent report, self report, and teacher report on Piers-Harris II, BASC-2, and Skills Improvement System Rating Scales were determined to be the most relevant measures of social skills development. A timeline for administration and plan for how to implement measurement and use data was suggested as well as considerations for future research.