Prevalence of low test scores in a pediatric psychiatric inpatient population: applying multivariate base rate analyses
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The understanding of neuropsychological functioning in pediatric psychiatric inpatient populations is growing, but limited, resulting in interpretive challenges. This study examined the application of multivariate base rate (MVBR) analysis in a clinical sample to appraise its utility in characterizing the frequency of low scores, as well as predictors of low scores, when using a flexible test battery. Participants included 99 children from a psychiatric inpatient unit referred for neuropsychological testing. Children hospitalized with psychiatric disorders exhibited high rates of low scores at varying criteria across the battery of tests. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed that after accounting for demographic and psychiatric factors, intellectual functioning accounted for approximately 26% of the variance in observed low scores. The results suggest that a substantial percentage of this population produces low scores on neuropsychological testing and, consistent with prior research, intellectual functioning is strongly associated with low score frequency. To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine the clinical application of MVBR analysis in a pediatric psychiatric inpatient population using a flexible test battery. Taken together, this investigation highlights the potential clinical utility of MVBR analysis when interpreting neuropsychological performance in clinical pediatric populations.
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In a study of low scores among an inpatient pediatric psychiatric sample, estimated intellectual ability was the only independent predictor of low scores.
“in a study of low scores among an inpatient pediatric psychiatric sample, estimated intellectual ability was the only independent predictor of low scores (Gaudet et al., 2019).”
From Cognitive weaknesses or impairments on the NIH toolbox cognition battery in children and adolescents: base rates in a normative sample and proposed methods for classification (2025) · cites this paper as Gaudet et al., 2019
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- Authors
- Gaudet, C. E., Cook, N. E., Kavanaugh, B. C., Studeny, J., & Holler, K.
- Affiliations
- University of Rhode Island (US)
- Brown University (US)
- Antioch University New England (US)
- Corresponding author
- Gaudet, Charles E.
- Venue
- Applied Neuropsychology: Child
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2018-01-08
- Volume
- 8
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 163-173
- ISSN
- 2162-2965 (ISSN-L)
- 2162-2973
- OpenAlex
- W2782810736
- Cited by
- 4
- References
- 57
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 1
- FWCI
- 0.32
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- Licence
- cc-by
- Locations
- Applied Neuropsychology Child (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Journal of Media Literacy Education (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Psychological Testing and Assessment
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Developmental and Educational Neuropsychology
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Historical and Modern Theater Studies
- Keywords
- neuropsychological assessment, intellectual functioning, score interpretation, child psychopathology
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Mental Disorders, Child, Data Interpretation, Statistical, Female, Humans, Inpatients, Male, Psychiatric Department, Hospital, Prevalence, Multivariate Analysis, Cognitive Dysfunction
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