The Individual Music-Centered Assessment Profile for Neurodevelopmental Disorders (IMCAP-ND) for use in Portugal: Translation and psychometric evidence — Marisa M. Raposo, Teresa Leite, Gustavo Schulz Gattino & Alexandre Castro-Caldas

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The Individual Music-Centered Assessment Profile for Neurodevelopmental Disorders (IMCAP-ND) for use in Portugal: Translation and psychometric evidence

Marisa M. Raposo, Teresa Leite, Gustavo Schulz Gattino & Alexandre Castro-Caldas

ABSTRACT

There is a comprehensive need for music-centred assessment tools as specific outcome measures of music therapy efficacy for people with neuro- developmental disorders (NDD), namely, autism spectrum disorders (ASD) as music facilitates communicative and social skills of these individuals and allows unique ways to assess their particular deficits. This research explored the initial psychometric properties of the Individual Music-Centered Assessment Profile for Neurodevelopmental Disorders’ European Portuguese version (IMCAP-NDPT), by examining 1) translation and adaptation, 2) inter-rater reliability, 3) test-retest reliability and 4) criterion and convergent validity. Study I had a sample of 87 children aged between 21 and 91 months, 30 of them with neurotypical development and 57 with several neurodevelopmental disorders, while studies II, III and IV had autistic children aged between 26 and 65 months (n = 10, n = 12 and n = 11, respectively). The translated and transculturally adapted version of IMCAP-NDPT seemed adequate for its purposes. This outcome measure obtained statistical significance when differentiating between groups with and without pathology. Findings also revealed a moderate / satisfactory test-retest repeatability (95% CI – CCI = .424 p= .022 ranging to CCI= .791 p= .000) and solid interobserver agreement (95% CI – ICC from .924 to .996 single measures p = .000, (κ) between two raters ranging from .81 to 1.00 in 63 of 109 items of the three scales as well as Pearson’s r ranged between .7 and .9; α = .997). Regarding criterion and convergent validity, positive significant correlations were found between several Musical Emotional Assessment Rating Scale (MEARS) and Musical Cognitive/Perception Scale (MCPS) items and totals and the Griffiths Mental Development Scales (GMDS) domains, varying from .60 to .90; no negative or null correlations were found. The results showed a noticeable level of inter-rater reliability as well as a good internal consistency. Thus, the IMCAP-ND Portuguese version can be used more confidently in clinical practice; nevertheless, future studies are recommended with a larger sample.

KEYWORDS

music therapy, autism spectrum disorder, neurodevelopmental disorder, assessment, reliability, validity evidence

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHIES

Marisa M. Raposo is a Neurologic Music Therapist (NMT), founder of MusicoterapiAçores, post-graduate in neuropsychology and is currently a PhD student in Cognition and Language Sciences from the Institute of Health Sciences (Universidade Catolica Portuguesa), investigating music therapy in neurodevelopmental disorders. She also holds an MA in Music Education for children with special needs and disabilities, a master’s degree in Music Therapy and a bachelor’s degree in choral conducting and music education. [marisasilvaraposo@gmail.com]

Gustavo Schulz Gattino, PhD, is Assistant Professor in the Music Therapy Department at Aalborg University in Denmark. He is member of the International Music Therapy Assessment Consortium (IMTAC) and editor of the Portuguese Journal of Music Therapy and Brazilian Journal of Music Therapy. He is co-founder and co-coordinator of the Ibero-American Group of Research in Music Therapy (GIIMT) and guest professor in the master’s programs in music therapy at the Valencia Catholic University Saint Vincent Martyr (Spain) and Map Institute (Spain). [gattino@hum.aau.dk]

Teresa Leite holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology (ISPA), a master’s in Music Therapy (NYU) and a PhD in Clinical Psychology and Group Psychotherapies (Adelphi University). Associate Professor at the Universidade Lusiada de Lisboa, scientific coordinator of the Masters in Music Therapy and Professor in undergraduate and masters’ courses in Psychology. Visiting Professor in the Master of Music Therapy at the Pontifical University of Salamanca. President of the board at the Portuguese Association of Music Therapy’s General Meeting. Effective member of the Portuguese Order of Psychologists, specialised in clinical psychology. She practises psychotherapy, music therapy and family and couple therapy in private practice. [leiteteresa@gmail.com]

Alexandre Castro-Caldas is head of the Institute of Health Sciences at the Universidade Catolica Portuguesa. He was, up to 2004, Full Professor of Neurology at the Lisbon Faculty of Medicine and Director of the Neurology Service of Lisbon’s Santa Maria Hospital. He was also president of the Portuguese Society of Neurology (1989-1992) and presided over the International Neuropsychological Society (2001-2002). He has authored more than 200 scientific articles/chapters and some books on the Brain. He was graced with many awards, among which the Great BIAL Medicine Award (2000), and the Distinguished Career Award from the International Neuropsychological Society (2009). [acastrocaldas@ucp.pt]