Solutions

Psychological testing has been encumbered by certain traditional assessment approaches that are somewhat outdated and ineffective:
  • Use of Likert-like rating scales (e.g., choose a value between 1 - 5 or 1- 10, strongly disagree - strongly agree, etc.)
  • "Negatively loaded" statements (e.g., "I felt sad," "I felt that people disliked me," etc.) that create a depressed tone to the instrument
  • Non-weighted response totals (i.e., an affirmative response to "My appetite was poor" counts as much as "I felt depressed" in determining if a subject is experiencing severe psychological distress.)
  • Summative cut-off scoring (i.e., if a subject "scores" 16 or more out of 60 he/she is significantly distressed; a score of 15 or less means he/she is not-no treatment recommended)

DRC has addressed these problems to make more specific and reliable evaluation instruments.

Click below to learn more about these tools:

CES-DM©
MDDS©
IRGS©

CES-DM©

Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale Modified (CES-DM) A simple, short, low cost assessment that can be taken online that will identify mental states of mild depression through to severe cases that carry the real potential for attempts at suicide.

Details
  • 20 Item-statements
  • Uses IRGS© scoring technology
  • Identifies general levels of emotional distress that may suggest depression/suicidal ideation
  • Administered via computer
  • Completion time: Approx 3 - 5 minutes in >95% of applications
  • Available in languages other than English
  • Provides real-time summary report for printing or attachment to EMR files

The 2 - 5 minute CES-DM© assessment offers critical preliminary information about serious psychological distress (SPD) and puts the control back into the hands of those who should have control: those experiencing the symptoms and those who can help with treatment. The reports that are generated are easy to read and identify clearly areas that may need to be addressed by a professional. Repeated assessments can provide a means to track progress. For sample images, click here.

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MDDS©

Multi-Dimensional Depression Scale (MDDS)
A second, simple to interpret assessment intended to accompany the CES-DM© that provides significantly more detail and analysis. The MDDS© requires an average administration time of between 26 - 31 minutes and provides separate measures of depression, anxiety, and social isolation along with a report of physical symptoms possibly associated with the identified condition(s).
  • 94 Item-statements
  • Uses IRGS© scoring technology
  • Identifies indicators of Depression (45 items); Anxiety (30 items); Social Isolation (19 items) along with a 19-item physical symptoms checklist
  • Administered via computer
  • Completion time: Approx 30 - 37 minutes in >95% of applications
  • May be transparently triggered by sufficient levels of depression responses as gathered by the CES-DM© or administered separately as a stand-alone assessment
  • Available in languages other than English
  • Provides real-time summary report for printing or attachment to EMR files

The MDDS© is intended to be administered as a stand-alone assessment but can be integrated into the assessment system so that it can be automatically triggered by certain responses to the CES-DM©. For sample screen shots, click here.

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IRGS© Item Response Graphic System

Overview
The IRGS© scaling system uses a computer-generated colored "bar" with a virtual "slider" device that moves along the bar. As the slider moves, the bar even changes color to reflect attitude or opinion in a universally understood fashion. The graphical nature of the device combined with the phrasing of the question items allows the respondent to easily rely on the right brain/right hemisphere --creating a "state of flow" of opinion with virtually no survey fatigue.

Invisible to the respondent, is a hidden mechanism that tracks the precise positioning of the "slider" on the colored bar. The position of the slider creates an unseen numeric value that is automatically processed by our computers without the person even knowing what is happening. This computer process generates numeric values that are consistent and accurate-that reflect feelings "by the numbers."

A Breakthrough Innovation...
The Item Response Graphic System (IRGS©) is a unique scaling system. It is the first true innovation in scaling system design since the 1940s when a college professor by the name of Rensis Likert released his namesake scale that you have seen many times -- where you rate something on a 1 - 5 scale. Unlike any other scale, the IRGS© does not appear to use numbers. Nevertheless it captures very accurate and consistent information about respondent reactions in numeric format.

Virtual Analog Scale vs. Radio Buttons/Checkboxes = Precision
Again, the IRGS© is a proprietary scale that does not show any numbers. Respondents do not choose a numeric value or point. The traditional numeric value type of system does not work well when capturing human reactions because the "spacing" between values of "4" and "5" or "7" and "8" in traditional systems doesn't represent consistently understood and shared values. In other words, one person's "4" might be another person's "5" or "3." On the other hand, studies have shown again and again that the values obtained by using the IRGS© scale are very consistent between individuals regardless of language, national origin, age, or gender.

Preventing "Test Fatigue" = Reliability of Results
It is also important to make sure that respondents are giving consistently accurate responses instead of starting out strong and later just putting down any response to hurry to finish the assessment.

Did you ever wonder why you got tired answering longer surveys? It works like this-- The human brain operates on the basis of right and left hemispheres.

Typically the right hemisphere (right "brain" if you will) is thought to process ideas holistically, to house emotional reactions, and to be sensitive to graphics and color-it is also the side that helps you fill in a survey form by circling a number or filling in one of those "bubbles" on the form. The left hemisphere (left "brain") is used for numeric calculation, evaluation in an objective sense, and for logical reasoning.

Why the IRGS© is Different and Significantly Better
Most assessments force a right-to-left-to-right processing switch with each survey question or item. In other words, the survey asks you for a reaction (feeling) to some question or statement. It then makes you decide which number reflects your feelings the best. Then you have to use the right side of your brain to draw a circle around the number or fill in a bubble on a form. This process stimulates a right brain-left brain-right brain again over and over with each question you are supposed to react to. This quickly results in mental fatigue and a reduction of both accuracy and motivation in answering more than just one or two items. That is why most end of course surveys "average out" to about a 3.8 - 4.2 on a 5-point scale. The respondents simply gravitate to a "4" response as a default under this type of stress. They are simply experiencing mental fatigue.

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