@article{827b50f0f2d4433ebad114d367ab55b3,
title = "Harmonizing PTSD Severity Scales Across Instruments and Sites",
abstract = "Objective: The variety of instruments used to assess posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) allows for flexibility, but also creates challenges for data synthesis. The objective of this work was to use a multisite mega analysis to derive quantitative recommendations for equating scores across measures of PTSD severity. Method: Empirical Bayes harmonization and linear models were used to describe and mitigate site and covariate effects. Quadratic models for converting scores across PTSD assessments were constructed using bootstrapping and tested on hold out data. Results: We aggregated 17 data sources and compiled an n = 5,634 sample of individuals who were assessed for PTSD symptoms. We confirmed our hypothesis that harmonization and covariate adjustments would significantly improve inference of scores across instruments. Harmonization significantly reduced cross-dataset variance (28%, p <.001), and models for converting scores across instruments were well fit (median R2 = 0.985) with an average root mean squared error of 1.46 on sum scores. Conclusions: These methods allow PTSD symptom severity to be placed on multiple scales and offers interesting empirical perspectives on the role of harmonization in the behavioral sciences.",
author = "Eamonn Kennedy and Dennis, {Emily L.} and Lindsey, {Hannah M.} and Terri deRoon-Cassini and Plessis, {Stefan Du} and Negar Fani and Kaufman, {Milissa L.} and Nastassja Koen and Larson, {Christine L.} and Sarah Laskowitz and Lebois, {Lauren A.M.} and Morey, {Rajendra A.} and Newsome, {Mary R.} and Cori Palermo and Pastorek, {Nicholas J.} and Abigail Powers and Randall Scheibel and Soraya Seedat and Antonia Seligowski and Stein, {Dan J.} and Jennifer Stevens and Delin Sun and Paul Thompson and Maya Troyanskaya and {van Rooij}, {Sanne J.H.} and Watts, {Amanda A.} and Tomas, {Carissa W.} and Wright Williams and Hillary, {Frank G.} and Pugh, {Mary Jo} and Wilde, {Elisabeth A.} and Tate, {David F.}",
note = "Funding Information: This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, award #R61NS120249, and the Long-Term Impact of Military Relevant Brain Injury Consortium (LIMBIC) Award W81XWH18PH/TBIRPLIMBIC under Awards No. W81XWH1920067 and W81XWH1320095. Secondary data provided for the mega analysis were supported by: Award number R21MH112956, the Anonymous Women{\textquoteright}s Health Fund, Kasparian Fund, Trauma Scholars Fund; The South African Medical Research Council for the “Shared Roots” Flagship Project, Grant MRC-RFA-IFSP-01-2013/ SHARED ROOTS” through funding received from the South African National Treasury under its Economic Competitiveness and Support Package; Funding from the SAMRC Unit on Risk & Resilience in Mental Disorders; The Narsad Young Investigators award; The PA Health Research Grant SAP #4100077082 to Frank G. Hillary; Award numbers: (NIH) K23MH125920; AHA 20CDA35310031; MH098212; MH071537; M01RR00039; UL1TR000454; HD071982; HD085850; U54 EB020403; R01 MH116147; R56 AG058854; P41 EB015922; R01 MH111671; F32MH109274; and K23AT009713. All contents and opinions expressed are sole responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of any funding sources. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022. American Psychological Association",
year = "2022",
doi = "10.1037/neu0000823",
language = "English (US)",
journal = "Neuropsychology",
issn = "0894-4105",
publisher = "American Psychological Association Inc.",
}