Objective
The Agitation Behavior Scale (ABS) was designed to assess agitation and other problem behaviors that typically occur during the acute recovery phase after traumatic brain injury. [1]
Intended Population
Patients with Traumatic brain Injury
Method of Use
ABS was used to assess agitation. This is a 14-item scale that includes different types of behaviors. Each item is rated from 1 (absent) to 4 (extremely present). A total score of 21 or less is normal behavior 22-28 is mild agitation 29-35 is moderate agitation, 36-56 is severe agitation.
Score 1: Absent
2 points: slight. Does not prevent the patient from engaging in otherwise appropriate behavior
3 points: Moderate. Need to move from agitation to appropriate behavior
Score 4: Extreme. The commotion persists despite trying to redirect
Procedure: Behavior (assign 1 to 4 points for each of the following 14 items)
- Short attention span Easily distracted Difficulty concentrating
- Impulsive impatience Low tolerance for pain or frustration
- Uncooperative resisting care or requests
- Violence and/or threats of violence against persons or property
- Explosive or unpredictable anger
- Shaking, rubbing, moaning, or other self-stimulating behavior
- Pulling at tubes or restraints
- Wandering from treatment areas
- restless pacing or excessive movement
- Repetitive behaviors (motor or verbal)
- Rapid, loud or excessive talking.
- Sudden changes of mood.
- Excessive crying or laughing.
- Self-abusiveness (physical or verbal)
Reliability
Test/Retest Reliability – (Corrigan 1989; 1=35; mean age=28.2; secondary education=12 years) Excellent correlation (r=70) of same-day scores between therapists and nurses[2]
Interater/interrater reliability – TBI: (Bogner et al. 1099; 17=45; admitted to acute rehab s/p TBI)
Total score (1=02) correlated well with factor correlations for disinhibition (r=00), aggression (1=91) and instability (1=73) when conducted by a research assistant
Sufficient correlation of booth and nursing ratings (range 1 = 304 to 004) based on the researcher’s 1-minute observation and the nursing staff’s entire shift rating
Validity
Traumatic brain injury: (Corrigan & Bogner 1994; N=212; mean age=31.2 (14-3) years; admitted to rehabilitation unit for acquired brain injury)
Confirmatory factor analysis supports a three-component subscale structure of aggressive disinhibition and instability, representing the structure of agitation[2]
Responsiveness
Agitation measured by ABS is best represented as a single structure. The results provide additional support for the reliability and effectiveness of ABS.
References
- ↑ Kreutzer JS, Caplan B, DeLuca J. Encyclopedia of Clinical Neuropsychology; With 199 Figures and 139 Tables. Springer; 2011.
- ↑ Jump up to:2.0 2.1 Bogner JA, Corrigan JD, Bode RK, Heinemann AW. Rating scale analysis of the Agitated Behavior Scale. The Journal of head trauma rehabilitation. 2000 Feb 1;15(1):656-69.