Dr Tate and her team are to be congratulated on this immense work. The labor of love that must have gone into producing this outstanding work is to be admired. The aim of the compendium is to allow generic health professionals to select and administer a wide range of scales, questionnaires and tests to patients with acquired brain damage. Its intention is not to replace more specialist assessments. What is particularly attractive in this compendium is that most of the tests are in the public domain and can be used straight from the book or downloaded from the relevant website.
The compendium is structured around the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF; World Health Organization, 2001). It is divided into four main sections covering: body functions including general and specific cognitive functions; activities of daily living and participation in the social, work and community life of the patient; and environmental factors both positive and negative that bear on the general functioning of the individual. The final chapter covers more global, multidimensional and quality of life scales. A helpful scale index is also provided.
There is an excellent introduction which sets the scene. Each test, scale and questionnaire follows the same beautifully laid out, succinct and informative format. The source is listed and where relevant the internet address is also provided. This is followed by a brief description of the purpose of the test, the items comprising the test, its development, administration and scoring. Then comes what I believe to be the unique strength of Dr Tate's compendium, namely an evaluation of the psychometric properties of the described measure, with a handy highlighted box summarizing the test's validity, reliability and responsiveness. Finally there is a brief section with critical comment. Key references are also provided for each test.
The compendium is an absolute joy to use, and will be of immense help to both health professionals and their patients, in objectively assessing and monitoring change and recovery over time. I believe that this compendium deserves to be on the shelf of every lead clinician and researcher involved in the care and rehabilitation of individuals with acquired brain damage.
