title: The Coping with Attention and Memory Complaints Questionnaire (CAMQ): psychometric evaluation of an instrument in suspected chronic solvent-induced encephalopathy (CSE).
abstract: Long-term occupational exposure to organic solvents may induce chronic solvent-induced encephalopathy (CSE), leading to neuropsychological impairments. We developed the Coping with Attention and Memory Complaints Questionnaire (CAMQ), an instrument for the assessment of coping strategies in patients suspected of CSE with neuropsychological complaints. Items for the CAMQ were based on existing coping dimensions and constructed by experts. The psychometric properties of the CAMQ were evaluated in a sample of 307 workers suspected of CSE. Factor analysis revealed four coping subscales: active coping, avoidance, acceptance, and seeking social support, all with good internal consistency (alphas .71-.78) and good test-retest reliability (ICCs .67-.82). The subscales demonstrated moderate correlations with related external constructs such as anxiety and depression, locus of control, meta-memory, mastery and generic coping styles. In conclusion, this study: (1) shows that the newly developed CAMQ is a reliable instrument, and (2) provides evidence for its validity in assessing coping with complaints of memory and attention in CSE-suspected patients. These results may serve for further study on coping with complaints of memory and attention, psychological adjustment and well-being in CSE patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. i.visser@ amc.uva.nl
authors.forename: Ieke
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Visser
authors.forename: Angela G E M
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: de Boer
authors.forename: Elizabeth M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Wekking
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: van Vliet
authors.forename: Moniek S E
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Van Hout
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schmand
authors.forename: Gert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: van der Laan
authors.forename: Aart H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Schene
authors.forename: Frank J H
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: van Dijk
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012997:Solvents / Q000009:adverse effects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D012997:Solvents