Factor structure, reliability, and validity of the Frontal Systems Behavior Scale (FrSBe) in an acute traumatic brain injury population.

Objective: This study investigated the psychometric properties of the Frontal Systems Behavior Scale (FrSBe) in an acute traumatic brain injury (TBI) population across indices of factor structure, reliability, and validity.

Method: Data were collected from 101 individuals undergoing acute rehabilitation for moderate and severe TBI both upon emergence from posttraumatic amnesia and at hospital discharge, as well as from their family members or caregivers.

Results: Four separate confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs) suggested that the FrSBe's three-factor/three-subscale solution did not fit the data well, and follow-up CFAs employing a one-factor structure similarly yielded poor fit indices. Four exploratory factor analyses (EFAs) failed to produce factor solutions consistent with each other or that resembled the factor solution retained in the EFA during the FrSBe's initial construction. The FrSBe had sufficiently high internal consistency at the total-score and subscale-score levels, good convergent validity with other indices of TBI functioning, and good test-retest reliability in the family administration of the measure, but not in the patient administration.

Conclusions: The FrSBe is an appropriate measure for use in an inpatient TBI population when using the total score and the family administration, though its subscales and patient administration warrant more rigorous examination.