title: Evaluation of the psychometric characteristics of the Spanish version of the Anorectic Behaviour Observation Scale.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Anorectic Behaviour Observation Scale (ABOS) was designed to obtain information from relatives about behaviours and attitudes of patients with eating disorders (ED). The aim of this study was to validate the ABOS into Spanish.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated the psychometric characteristics of the Spanish version of the ABOS in a clinical ED sample (239 caregivers of 143 ED patients). Instrument reliability (internal consistency), validity (construct, convergent and discriminant, known groups), responsiveness and goodness-of-fit were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data from the Spanish population revealed a three-factor structure similar to that of the original ABOS, although the composition of subscales differed somewhat from the original. An ABOS cut-point of 21 was identified. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the total ABOS score was 0.81. Correlations with other instruments demonstrated convergent and divergent validity. Among caregivers, the total ABOS score and Factor scores significantly discriminated between anxiety, depression and health-related quality of life, while among ED patients they discriminated between diagnosis, severity and level of ED symptoms - evidence of known-groups validity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that the ABOS can be reliably and validly used in Spain in a number of different clinical contexts, by researchers and clinicians alike.
authors.affiliation: Research Unit, Galdakao-Usansolo Hospital, Barrio Labeaga s/n, Galdakao, Bizkaia, Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Martín
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Padierna
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Aguirre
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lafuente
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Quintana
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000855:Anorexia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013030:Spain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult