B – 54 The Neurobehavioral Dysregulation Scale: An Initial Examination of Psychometric Properties

Abstract Objective The present study aimed to develop and validate a novel self-report measure of neurobehavioral dysregulation, a proposed transdiagnostic construct encompassing four symptom domains: impulsivity, affective lability, emotional dyscontrol, and explosivity. It was hypothesized that the newly developed questionnaire, entitled the Neurobehavioral Dysregulation Scale (NDS), would (a) fit a 4-factor model, (b) have acceptable internal consistency, and (c) demonstrate evidence for convergent and discriminant validity. Method A total of 60 items were developed (15 per domain) and reviewed by three neuropsychologists for expert validation. The NDS was administered electronically to a sample of 384 undergraduate students (Mage = 19.48, SD = 2.7) enrolled at a large public university in the Southern U.S. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted to test the hypothesized four-factor structure. Convergent and discriminant validity were assessed using the Neuro-Qol Emotional and Behavioral Dyscontrol – Short Form, the Patient Health Questionnaire-8 (PHQ-8), and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) questionnaires. Results The CFA supported the hypothesized four-factor model (CFI = .977, TLI = .976, RMSEA = .044). All subscales showed good internal consistency (αs = .92–.96). Convergent validity was supported by strong correlations with theoretically related Neuro-QoL Short Form (r = .801, p < .001). Discriminant validity was demonstrated by weaker correlations with PHQ-8 and GAD-7 scores (rs = .625-.644, ps < .001), indicating distinction from general mood symptoms. Conclusion The NDS demonstrates strong psychometric properties and may be a reliable and valid tool for assessing neurobehavioral dysregulation. Findings support its utility for research purposes, though further validation in clinical populations is warranted.