Thai adaptation and reliability of three versions of the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS 11, BIS-15, and BIS-Brief)

Long, short, and brief versions of the Barratt Impulsiveness scale (BIS-11, BIS-15, and BIS-Brief) were tested in an adult Thai population. The BIS-11T and BIS-15T were translated, back-translated, and administered to a non-clinical population (n = 305) of native Thai speakers who returned 2 weeks later for re-test. BIS-Brief-T psychometrics were calculated post-hoc. Impulsivity scores were normally distributed for the BIS-11T and BIS-15T, but not BIS-Brief-T. Excellent internal consistency was observed, with Cronbach's alpha coefficients above 0.80 for all translated instruments: BIS-11T (α = 0.86), BIS-15T (α = 0.81), BIS-Brief-T (α = 0.81). A total of 260 participants completed both instruments (85%), with test-retest reliability exceeding r = 0.81. All three instruments were highly correlated (r = 0.83-0.89). Confirmatory factor analysis supports a three factor structure (attention, motor, non-planning) for BIS-15T and two factor structure for BIS-11T. BIS scales can support measurement of a range of impulsivity scores in an adult Thai population, though predictive validity of these scales remains unexplored.

Intersection syndrome in Buriram Hospital: a 4-yr prospective study

OBJECTIVE

To determine the prevalence, demographic characteristics, symptoms, treatment, and outcome of patients who presented to Buriram Provincial hospital and were diagnosed with intersection syndrome.

DESIGN

This was a 4-yr prospective study that included all patients with new complaints of forearm and hand pain who presented to Buriram hospital as inpatients or outpatients.

RESULTS

The prevalence of intersection syndrome was found to be 0.37% of all patients (8080) with arm or hand pain. Of the 30 patients presenting with intersection syndrome, all had forearm pain, 22 (73.3%) had swelling, and 12 (40%) had crepitus noted in the intersected region. Fourteen (46.7%) patients reported pain provoked with twisting hand motions with radial deviations, 4 (13.3%) with pulling, and 12 (40%) with combinations of multiple hand movements (threshing, planting, hammering, hand washing, spraying and cementing). The majority of the patients were male (70%) farmers (60%). Twenty-nine patients received nonoperative treatment, including modified work activities to reduce stress on the wrist, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory, and analgesic medications. One patient received only analgesic medication. One patient additionally required a resting hand splint. Every patient was seen for follow-up within the next 7 days. By 12-18 months posttreatment, there were only 14 patients (46.6%) remaining in follow-up, none with any symptom recurrence.

CONCLUSION

Intersection syndrome is a relatively uncommon, overused syndrome that is associated with repeated radial deviation of the wrist and responds favorably to conservative treatment.

Reassessment of the incidence of complex regional pain syndrome type 1 following stroke

Previous literature has suggested that reflex sympathetic dystrophy, also known as complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) type 1, is a relatively common finding after a stroke. However, much of this data was obtained before patients routinely received early intensive inpatient rehabilitation. The purpose of this study is to reevaluate the incidence of CRPS type 1 following an acute first stroke. Subjects admitted to an acute rehabilitation setting for stroke with no other concomitant neurologic or orthopedic injuries between October 1, 1996, and May 31, 1997, were studied. At admission and once a week until discharge, subjects were evaluated for shoulder pain, decreased passive range of motion of the shoulder, wrist/hand pain, edema, and skin changes. If three of these five criteria were positive, the subjects underwent a triple-phase bone scan (TPBS). Bone scan findings consistent with CRPS type 1 were taken as confirming the diagnosis. Of 64 subjects, 13 underwent bone scans, with only one positive result. Thus our study revealed a 1.56 percent incidence of CRPS type 1 following a first stroke. This incidence is much lower than the historically accepted 12.5 percent. We speculate that this low figure is related to early comprehensive rehabilitation that included proper upper extremity positioning and early mobilization with sensory stimulation.

Shoulder pain as an unusual presentation of pneumonia in a stroke patient: a case report

Etiologies of shoulder pain in the hemiplegic population, such as glenohumeral subluxation, frozen shoulder, and reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD), have been described extensively. We present an 89-year-old woman with right hemiparesis secondary to ischemic lacunar infarction who developed sudden onset of right shoulder pain on the fifth day of inpatient rehabilitation. The pain was severe, limiting range of motion (ROM) and participation in therapy. Extensive investigations to rule out subluxation, fracture, connective tissue disease, RSD, and pulmonary embolism were negative. Ultimately, her shoulder pain and decreased ROM completely resolved with antibiotic treatment for right lower lobe pneumonia. We conclude that her symptoms were possibly referred pain from diaphragmatic irritation transmitted via right C4 sensory axons in the phrenic nerve, which shares the same dermatome as the right acromion area. This case was an unusual presentation of pneumonia in an elderly woman with hemiplegia. We recommend that pneumonia be considered in the differential diagnoses of shoulder pain.