title: Normative Data for the Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory.
abstract: The demographically diverse populations served by large health care systems (Veterans Affairs, Department of Defense, Medicare, Medicaid) are routinely screened with the Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory (NSI). The extent to which a patient's report of symptoms either initially and/or across time is affected by demographic variables-gender, ethnicity, age, or education-has not been investigated despite widespread use of the NSI. In practice, the effectiveness of this tool might be improved with demographically based norms. A large data set of normal community-dwelling individuals was collected using the NSI. Emphasis was made to collect data from individuals of diverse ethnic backgrounds. It was hypothesized that ethnic/cultural backgrounds would have an impact on NSI scores. The results provide normative data for the NSI applicable to a wide variety of individuals of various ages and ethnic backgrounds. An analysis of variance indicated there was no significant difference in NSI responses based on ethnic/cultural background; however, age and gender were found to contribute significantly to the variance associated with symptom endorsement. The NSI appears to be a reliable measure of self-report postconcussive symptoms. Age is a variable associated with differential symptom endorsement on the NSI. Follow-up studies are needed to provide a measure of the sensitivity and specificity of this measure.
authors: a Meyers Neuropsychological Services , Mililani , Hawaii.
authors: John E
authors: JE
authors: Meyers
authors: b Private Practice , Helena , Montana.
authors: James
authors: J
authors: English
authors: c Department of Psychology , Brigham Young University-Hawaii , Laie , Hawaii.
authors: Ronald M
authors: RM
authors: Miller
authors: c Department of Psychology , Brigham Young University-Hawaii , Laie , Hawaii.
authors: Amy Junghyun
authors: AJ
authors: Lee
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006787:Hospitals, Veterans; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012016:Reference Values; D012737:Sex Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: adulthood; cognition; ethnic-minority studies; neuropsychology