Testing for response shift in treatment evaluation of change in self‐reported psychopathology amongst secondary psychiatric care outpatients. Issue 3 (17th June 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Carlier, Ingrid V.E.; van Eeden, Wessel A.; de Jong, Kim; Giltay, Erik J.; van Noorden, Martijn S.; van der Feltz‐Cornelis, Christina; Zitman, Frans G.; Kelderman, Henk; van Hemert, Albert M.
• Is Part Of: International journal of methods in psychiatric research. Volume 28:Issue 3(2019)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2019-06-17
• Subjects: longitudinal measurement invariance -- mental health treatment -- psychopathology -- response shift -- Symptom Questionnaire‐48 (SQ‐48); Psychiatry -- Research -- Methodology -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; 616.890072
• DOI: 10.1002/mpr.1785
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1049-8931

Abstract

Abstract: Objectives: If patients change their perspective due to treatment, this may alter the way they conceptualize, prioritize, or calibrate questionnaire items. These psychological changes, also called "response shifts, " may pose a threat to the measurement of therapeutic change in patients. Therefore, it is important to test the occurrence of response shift in patients across their treatment. Methods: This study focused on self‐reported psychological distress/psychopathology in a naturalistic sample of 206 psychiatric outpatients. Longitudinal measurement invariance tests were computed across treatment in order to detect response shifts. Results: Compared with before treatment, post‐treatment psychopathology scores showed an increase in model fit and factor loading, suggesting that symptoms became more coherently interrelated within their psychopathology domains. Reconceptualization (depression/mood) and reprioritization (somatic and cognitive problems) response shift types were found in several items. We found no recalibration response shift. Conclusion: This study provides further evidence that response shift can occur in adult psychiatric patients across their mental health treatment. Future research is needed to determine whether response shift implies an unwanted potential bias in treatment evaluation or a desired cognitive change intended by treatment.