Adaptation and validation of the Portuguese version of the Lithium Knowledge Test (LKT) of bipolar patients treated with lithium: cross-over study

doi:10.1186/1745-0179-2-34

Clinical Practice and Epidemiology in Mental Health

Volume 2

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Rosa AR
Andreazza AC
Gazalle FK
Sanchez-Moreno J
Santin A
Stein A
Barros HM
Vieta E
Kapczinski F

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Andreazza AC
Gazalle FK
Sanchez-Moreno J
Santin A
Stein A
Barros HM
Vieta E
Kapczinski F
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Adaptation and validation of the Portuguese version of the Lithium Knowledge Test (LKT) of bipolar patients treated with lithium: cross-over study

Adriane R Rosa¹^,5, Ana Cristina Andreazza¹^,2, Fernando Kratz Gazalle¹^,3, Jose Sanchez-Moreno⁵, Aida Santin¹, Airton Stein⁴, Helena MT Barros⁴, Eduard Vieta⁵ and Flávio Kapczinski¹

¹Bipolar Disorders Program, Centro de Pesquisas, Clinic Hospital of Porto Alegre, Brazil and Post-Graduate Medical Science Program, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil

²Department of Biochemistry, Science Institute of Basic Disease, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil

³Post-Graduate Psychiatry Program, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil

⁴Pharmacology Departament, Federal Fundation University of Medical Sciences of Porto Alegre, Brazil

⁵Bipolar Disorders Program, Clinical Institute of Neuroscience, Clinic Hospital of Barcelona, Villarroel 170, Barcelona 08036, Barcelona, Spain

Clinical Practice and Epidemiology in Mental Health 2006, 2:34doi:10.1186/1745-0179-2-34


Published:	5 December 2006

Abstract

Objective

Adherence problems are a common feature among bipolar patients. A recent study showed that lithium knowledge was the main difference between adherent and non adherents bipolar patients. The Lithium Knowledge Test (LKT), a brief questionnaire, was developed as a means of identifying aspects of patients' practical and pharmacological knowledge which are important if therapy is to be safe and effective. The original English version is validated in psychiatric population, but a validated Portuguese one is not yet available.

Methods

One hundred six patients selected were diagnosed with bipolar disorder (I or II) according to DSM-IV criteria and had to be on lithium treatment for at least one month. The LKT was administered on only one occasion. We analysed the internal consis tency, concurrent validity, sensitivity and specificity of the LKT for the detection of the knowledge about lithium treatment of bipolar patients.

Results

The internal consistency, evaluated by Cronbach's alpha was 0.596. The mean of total score LKT by bipolar patients was 9.0 (SD: 0.75) for men and 8.74 (SD: 0.44) for women. Concurrent validity based on plasma lithium concentration showed a significant correlation between the total LKT score and plasma lithium (r = 0,232; p = 0.020). The sensitivity was 84% and specificity was 81%.

Conclusion

LKT is a rapid, reliable instrument which appears to be as effective as a lengthier standard interview with a lithium clinic doctor, and which has a high level of acceptability to lithium patients. We found that the psychometric assessment of the Portuguese version of LKT showed good internal consistency, sensitivity and specificity.