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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2011 Apr 12.
Published in final edited form as: Clin Gerontol. 2007 Mar 3;31(3):37–66. doi: 10.1080/07317110802072140

Table 1.

Decision Making Ability Components and Sources of Items

Ability Subscales Itemsa Notes Adapted from:
Understanding U1.
Disorder
4–8 Each element is disclosed and
assessed with questions. A
HCAI (Edelstein, 1999), MacCAT-T
U2.
Treatment
8–16 bulleted list is left out for
reference.
(Grisso & Appelbaum, 1998b), Pilot studies

Appreciation A1.
Distrust
2 Doubt about the benefit of
treatment;
Concerns about harm from
doctor
MacCAT-T (Grisso & Appelbaum, 1998b),
POD (Appelbaum & Grisso, 1992)
A2.
Foresight
2 Planning for chosen treatment;
Projection of status after
treatment
CCTI (Marson et al., 1995), CSA (Saks etal., 2002)

Reasoning R1.
Rational
2 Compare and contrast
treatments;
List rational reasons for
treatment
HCAI (Edelstein, 1999), MacCAT-T
(Grisso & Appelbaum, 1998b), CCTI (Marson et al., 1995)
R2. Values 2 Treatment consequences for
valued activities;
Treatment consequences for
valued relationships
Pilot studies

Communicatin
g a Choice
C1.
Naming
1 Naming two choices HCAI (Edelstein, 1999), MacCAT-T
C2.
Communic
ating
1 Statement of one consistent
choice
(Grisso & Appelbaum, 1998b), CCTI (Marson et al., 1995)
a

The number of items assessed in Understanding varies based on the complexity of the diagnostic and treatment situation. With the standardized vignettes developed for research, the number of facts increases with each vignette.