BackgroundThe National Institutes of Health Toolbox Emotion Battery (NIHTB-EB) is a “common currency”, computerized assessment developed to measure the full spectrum of emotional health. Though comprehensive, the NIHTB-EB’s 17 scales may be unwieldy for users aiming to capture more global indices of emotional functioning.MethodsNIHTB-EB was administered to 1,036 English-speaking and 408 Spanish-speaking adults as a part of the NIH Toolbox norming project. We examined the factor structure of the NIHTB-EB in English- and Spanish-speaking adults and developed factor analysis-based summary scores. Census-weighted norms were presented for English speakers, and sample-weighted norms were presented for Spanish speakers.ResultsExploratory factor analysis for both English- and Spanish-speaking cohorts resulted in the same 3-factor solution: 1) negative affect, 2) social satisfaction, and 3) psychological well-being. Confirmatory factor analysis supported similar factor structures for English- and Spanish-speaking cohorts. Model fit indices fell within the acceptable/good range, and our final solution was optimal compared to other solutions.ConclusionSummary scores based upon the normative samples appear to be psychometrically supported and should be applied to clinical samples to further validate the factor structures and investigate rates of problematic emotions in medical and psychiatric populations.

The Department of Defense (DOD) has recently prioritized the investigation of the acute and chronic adverse brain health and performance effects of low-level blast (LLB) generated by the use of weapons systems. While acute exposure can be quantified by sensor technology, career exposure has no widely accepted and validated measure for characterization. Currently, distinct research groups are developing and validating four promising measures to estimate career blast exposure history: the Salisbury Blast Interview, Blast Exposure Threshold Survey, Blast Ordnance and Occupational Exposure Measure, and the Blast Frequency and Symptom Severity. Each measure offers an assessment of blast history that is uniquely beneficial to addressing specific research questions. However, use of divergent strategies is not efficient to accelerate the field's understanding of the impact of career exposure and Service-connected health outcomes. As a DOD-wide solution, collaboration across these groups is required to develop a tool(s) that can be standardized across research studies and, ultimately, pared down to be implemented in clinical settings. Here, we overview the current four measures and provide a perspective on the way forward for optimization and/or combination in support of this solution.

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