Performance Validity Testing in Justice-Involved Adults with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder

AbstractObjectives:A number of commonly used performance validity tests (PVTs) may be prone to high failure rates when used for individuals with severe neurocognitive deficits. This study investigated the validity of 10 PVT scores in justice-involved adults with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), a neurodevelopmental disability stemming from prenatal alcohol exposure and linked with severe neurocognitive deficits.Method:The sample comprised 80 justice-involved adults (ages 19–40) including 25 with confirmed or possible FASD and 55 where FASD was ruled out. Ten PVT scores were calculated, derived from Word Memory Test, Genuine Memory Impairment Profile, Advanced Clinical Solutions (Word Choice), the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale – Fourth Edition (Reliable Digit Span and age-corrected scaled scores (ACSS) from Digit Span, Coding, Symbol Search, Coding – Symbol Search, Vocabulary – Digit Span), and the Wechsler Memory Scale – Fourth Edition (Logical Memory II Recognition).Results:Participants with diagnosed/possible FASD were more likely to fail any single PVT, and failed a greater number of PVTs overall, compared to those without FASD. They were also more likely to fail based on Word Memory Test, Digit Span ACSS, Coding ACSS, Symbol Search ACSS, and Logical Memory II Recognition, compared to controls (35–76%). Across both groups, substantially more participants with IQ <70 failed two or more PVTs (90%), compared to those with an IQ ≥70 (44%).Conclusions:Results highlight the need for additional research examining the use of PVTs in justice-involved populations with FASD.

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Postnatal nutritional treatment of neurocognitive deficits in fetal alcohol spectrum disorder

Biochemistry and Cell Biology ◽

10.1139/bcb-2017-0085 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 96 (2) ◽

pp. 213-221 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

A. Bastons-Compta ◽

M. Astals ◽

V. Andreu-Fernandez ◽

E. Navarro-Tapia ◽

O. Garcia-Algar

Keyword(s):

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder ◽

Prenatal Alcohol Exposure ◽

Alcohol Exposure ◽

Spectrum Disorder ◽

Neurocognitive Deficits ◽

Fetal Alcohol ◽

Nutritional Treatment ◽

Wide Range ◽

Prenatal Alcohol ◽

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum

Ethanol is the most important teratogen agent in humans. Prenatal alcohol exposure can lead to a wide range of adverse effects, which are broadly termed as fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). The most severe consequence of maternal alcohol abuse is the development of fetal alcohol syndrome, defined by growth retardation, facial malformations, and central nervous system impairment expressed as microcephaly and neurodevelopment abnormalities. These alterations generate a broad range of cognitive abnormalities such as learning disabilities and hyperactivity and behavioural problems. Socioeconomic status, ethnicity, differences in genetic susceptibility related to ethanol metabolism, alcohol consumption patterns, obstetric problems, and environmental influences like maternal nutrition, stress, and other co-administered drugs are all factors that may influence FASD manifestations. Recently, much attention has been paid to the role of nutrition as a protective factor against alcohol teratogenicity. There are a great number of papers related to nutritional treatment of nutritional deficits due to several factors associated with maternal consumption of alcohol and with eating and social disorders in FASD children. Although research showed the clinical benefits of nutritional interventions, most of work was in animal models, in a preclinical phase, or in the prenatal period. However, a minimum number of studies refer to postnatal nutrition treatment of neurodevelopmental deficits. Nutritional supplementation in children with FASD has a dual objective: to overcome nutritional deficiencies and to reverse or improve the cognitive deleterious effects of prenatal alcohol exposure. Further research is necessary to confirm positive results, to determine optimal amounts of nutrients needed in supplementation, and to investigate the collective effects of simultaneous multiple-nutrient supplementation.

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A practical testing battery to measure neurobehavioral ability among children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder

The International Journal of Alcohol and Drug Research ◽

10.7895/ijadr.v2i3.83 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2 (3) ◽

pp. 51-60 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Wendy O. Kalberg ◽

Phillip A. May ◽

Jason Blankenship ◽

David Buckley ◽

J. Phillip Gossage ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder ◽

Word Association ◽

Digit Span ◽

Drinking Behavior ◽

First Grade ◽

Spectrum Disorder ◽

Behavioral Tests ◽

Fetal Alcohol ◽

Maternal Risk ◽

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum

Kalberg, W., May, P., Blankenship, J., Buckley, D., Gossage, J., & Adnams, C. (2013). A practical testing battery to measure neurobehavioral ability among children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. The International Journal Of Alcohol And Drug Research, 2(3), 51-60. doi:10.7895/ijadr.v2i3.83 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7895/ijadr.v2i3.83)Aim: To determine a brief, practical battery of tests that discriminate between children with a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) and unexposed controls.Design: Children received dysmorphology exams and a targeted battery of cognitive and behavioral tests, and their mothers were interviewed about maternal risk factors. Children diagnosed with an FASD and children unexposed to alcohol prenatally were compared on cognitive-behavioral test results.Setting: A community in the Western Cape Province of South Africa.Participants: Sixty-one first-grade children with FASD and 52 matched normal controls.Measures: Statistical analyses of maternal drinking behavior and the children’s test performances.Findings: Self-reported maternal drinking patterns before, during, and after pregnancy were used to confirm prenatal exposures to alcohol in the group of children diagnosed with FASD. With this sample of children diagnosed with FASD and completely unexposed controls, the adverse effects of maternal drinking on children’s performance are corroborated. Results of the battery of standardized cognitive and behavioral tests indicate highly significant differences (p ≤ .001) between the two groups on intelligence, perceptual motor skills, and planning, and on logical, spatial, short term, long term, and working memory abilities. Furthermore, a binary logistical regression model of only three specific cognitive and behavioral tests, including Digit Span A+B (Wald = 3.90), Absurd Situation (Wald = 4.73), and Word Association (Wald = 6.85) correctly classified 77.6% of the child participants as FASD or controls.Conclusions: A brief, practical set of tests can discriminate between children with and without FASD and provide useful information for interventions for affected children.

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