Hanne Kristensen1, Svenn Torgersen. 1. Regional Centre for Child and Adolescent Mental Health, RBUP, p.b. 23 Tåsen, 0801 Oslo, Norway. hanne.kristensen@r-bup.no
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the level of diagnostic and discriminative accuracy of The Social Anxiety Scale for Children - Revised (SASC-R) for identifying social anxiety disorder (SAD) in a community-based sample of 11-12 year-old children. Parent-child diagnostic agreement was also examined. METHOD: A questionnaire including SASC-R and items on impulsive behavior was sent to a population based sample of children, born in 1992. A total of 2568 parents returned their questionnaires (rr: 70%), and 1297 (51%) consented to further participation. An index group [50 high-scoring children on social anxiety (SA-group)] and two contrast groups [(50 high-scoring children on impulsive behavior (Imp-group) and 50 low-scoring children on SA and Imp, (Ls-group)] were selected for participation. RESULTS: SAD was assigned 35 (23%) of 150 children; 28 (80%) from the SA-group; 7 (20%) from the Imp- group and 0 from the Ls-group. The SASC-R showed relatively high discriminative accuracy for SAD, but was also influenced by other diagnoses. Mother-child agreement was fair (kappa = 0.46), and mother-only diagnoses were frequent. Both child and parent information are important when diagnosing SAD in this age group.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the level of diagnostic and discriminative accuracy of The Social Anxiety Scale for Children - Revised (SASC-R) for identifying social anxiety disorder (SAD) in a community-based sample of 11-12 year-old children. Parent-child diagnostic agreement was also examined. METHOD: A questionnaire including SASC-R and items on impulsive behavior was sent to a population based sample of children, born in 1992. A total of 2568 parents returned their questionnaires (rr: 70%), and 1297 (51%) consented to further participation. An index group [50 high-scoring children on social anxiety (SA-group)] and two contrast groups [(50 high-scoring children on impulsive behavior (Imp-group) and 50 low-scoring children on SA and Imp, (Ls-group)] were selected for participation. RESULTS:SAD was assigned 35 (23%) of 150 children; 28 (80%) from the SA-group; 7 (20%) from the Imp- group and 0 from the Ls-group. The SASC-R showed relatively high discriminative accuracy for SAD, but was also influenced by other diagnoses. Mother-child agreement was fair (kappa = 0.46), and mother-only diagnoses were frequent. Both child and parent information are important when diagnosing SAD in this age group.
Authors: D V Sheehan; Y Lecrubier; K H Sheehan; P Amorim; J Janavs; E Weiller; T Hergueta; R Baker; G C Dunbar Journal: J Clin Psychiatry Date: 1998 Impact factor: 4.384