Coolidge Assessment Battery

Fred L. Coolidge, Ph.D. © 1999

The Coolidge Assessment Battery (CAB) was designed by a clinical neuropsychologist, and has a threefold purpose: (1) to assess clinical syndromes on Axis I of the DSM; (2) to assess personality disorders according to the strict criteria on Axis II of the DSM; and (3) to evaluate neuropsychological functioning. Additional scales measure Executive Functions of the Frontal Lobes, Personality Change Due to a Medical Condition, and Hostility.

Applications

• In community clinics, hospitals, high school and college counseling offices, private psychological, and psychiatric practices, referral agencies, medical facilities courts, reformatories and other similar settings.
• Research and evaluation, such as appraising the effect of treatment or social intervention, or in community mental health research.

Description

The CAB contains a total of 225 items and is answered on a four-point Likert scale ranging from Strongly False to Strongly True. All items were created directly from the unique criteria of the clinical syndromes on Axis I and the personality disorders on Axis II of the DSM. A remarkable feature of the CAB is that it provides comprehensive assessment of 51 scales, yet can be completed in 40 minutes. In addition, it is suitable for adolescents (age 15 and above) and adults. Two assessment forms are available, a self-report (Form S), and a report that can be completed by another rater (Form R). Form R is suitable for peer, spouse, parent, or expert ratings, and may be used to supplement self-reports, or as an alternative. The 51 scales of the CAB are organized into eight areas, as follows: Axis I, Axis II, Neuropsychological Dysfunction, Executive Functions of the Frontal Lobes, Personality Change Due to a Medical Condition, Hostility, Other, and Validity.

Reliability and Validity

Several empirical investigations on the reliability and validity of the CAB are presented in the manual. These studies have consistently found that the CAB scales demonstrate strong psychometric properties. For example, the personality disorder scales from Axis II have a mean test-retest reliability of .90 during a one-week interval. Internal consistency reliabilities are also strong (.83 for the Neuropsychological Dysfunction Scale, and .89 for both the Depression and Anxiety Scales is .89). Estimates of concurrent validity have also been computed. For example, the CAB Anxiety scale shows concurrent validity of .83 with Spielberger's Trait Anxiety score. Finally, evidence of convergent and discriminant validity is presented. For example, the Neuropsychological Dysfunction Scale of the CAB resulted in 88% correct identification on closed head injured patients and 82% correct identification for a matched control group. The CAB norms are based on a sample of over 900 individuals ranging from 16 to 78 years of age.

Software

The SigmaSoft CAB for Windows allows you to administer and score both Form S and Form R on your computer. The CAB for Windows software produces four types of reports. The Brief and Narrative Reports are similar to those available from our Mail-in Scoring service. The CAB Score Report with Significant Item and Responses consists of everything available on the Brief Report plus critical items, drug and alcohol items, scales of the eight groups that are outside the normal limits, critical items endorsed on those scales, a list of responses to the items on the four non-normative scales, possible therapy issues, and diagnostic possibilities. The CAB Data Report contains the scores found in the Brief Report in a format designed for use by other programs. In addition to the software itself, you will need to purchase enough coupons to pay for each report you wish to produce.

Prices

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