Initial Validation of a Comprehensive Assessment Instrument for Bereavement-Related Grief Symptoms and Risk of Complications: The Indicator of Bereavement Adaptation—Cruse Scotland (IBACS)

Abstract

ObjectiveThis study assessed the validity of the Indicator of Bereavement Adaptation Cruse Scotland (IBACS). Designed for use in clinical and non-clinical settings, the IBACS measures severity of grief symptoms and risk of developing complications.MethodN = 196 (44 male, 152 female) help-seeking, bereaved Scottish adults participated at two timepoints: T1 (baseline) and T2 (after 18 months). Four validated assessment instruments were administered: CORE-R, ICG-R, IES-R, SCL-90-R. Discriminative ability was assessed using ROC curve analysis. Concurrent validity was tested through correlation analysis at T1. Predictive validity was assessed using correlation analyses and ROC curve analysis. Optimal IBACS cutoff values were obtained by calculating a maximal Youden index J in ROC curve analysis. Clinical implications were compared across instruments.ResultsROC curve analysis results (AUC = .84, p < .01, 95% CI between .77 and .90) indicated the IBACS is a good diagnostic instrument for assessing complicated grief. Positive correlations (p < .01, 2-tailed) with all four instruments at T1 demonstrated the IBACS' concurrent validity, strongest with complicated grief measures (r = .82). Predictive validity was shown to be fair in T2 ROC curve analysis results (n = 67, AUC = .78, 95% CI between .65 and .92; p < .01). Predictive validity was also supported by stable positive correlations between IBACS and other instruments at T2. Clinical indications were found not to differ across instruments.ConclusionsThe IBACS offers effective grief symptom and risk assessment for use by non-clinicians. Indications are sufficient to support intake assessment for a stepped model of bereavement intervention.

Effectiveness of bereavement counselling through a community‐based organization: A naturalistic, controlled trial

“…At baseline, an intake assessment was conducted by a purpose‐trained volunteer using the IBACS, a validated assessment instrument for bereavement‐related grief and risk factors (Newsom, Schut, Stroebe, Birrell, & Wilson, ; Newsom, Schut, Stroebe, Wilson, & Birrell, ). The minimum IBACS score was 0; the maximum was 55.…”

“…IBACS (Newsom, Schut, Stroebe, Wilson, et al, ) was administered to measure baseline levels of bereavement‐related grief symptoms and the risk of developing complications while grieving due to the presence of known risk factors. Risk factors were assessed through a semistructured interview; symptoms of bereavement‐related distress were measured with a structured question set.…”

Community-based counseling reaches and helps bereaved people living in low-income households

“…People requiring specialized support (language interpretation, support for cognitive impairment) were excluded from the study, as were people who were already receiving outside professional help for grief or other/additional psychiatric conditions or diagnoses at baseline (e.g., substance abuse, psychosis, schizophrenia). All participants had received an intake assessment result of 18 or higher on the Indicator of Bereavement Adaptation-Cruse Scotland (IBACS) (Newsom et al, 2016), indicating that intervention would be appropriate. Table I presents details of participants' baseline characteristics.…”

“…Participants also received informational materials from CBCS providing basic information about coping with grief, and spoke over the phone with a CBCS staff member or trained volunteer to provide details concerning the circumstances surrounding their bereavement, and contact and scheduling information. All participants also completed the IBACS, a semi-structured intake assessment for bereavement intervention, which was delivered either in person or over the telephone (Newsom et al, 2016).…”

“…Following standard CBCS practice, bereaved people who have contacted the organization seeking support-and who have been bereaved for at least six months, a point by which time the intensity of a typical bereavement response tends to subside (see Shear, 2015)-will participate in an intake process either in person or over the telephone. This intake process entails the use of the Indicator of Bereavement Adaptation Cruse Scotland (IBACS; see Newsom et al, 2016) to assess the risk and magnitude of the bereaved person's difficulties coping with grief. IBACS scores indicating that the bereaved person is coping successfully result in a recommendation for watchful waiting, whereas indications that the bereaved person would benefit from intervention result in an allocation to a counselor.…”