Diagnostic Efficiency of Caregiver Report on the SCARED for Identifying Youth Anxiety Disorders in Outpatient Settings. (21st December 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Van Meter, Anna R.; You, Dokyoung S.; Halverson, Tate; Youngstrom, Eric A.; Birmaher, Boris; Fristad, Mary A.; Kowatch, Robert A.; Storfer-Isser, Amy; Horwitz, Sarah M.; Frazier, Thomas W.; Arnold, L. Eugene; Findling, Robert L.; LAMS Group, The
• Is Part Of: Journal of clinical child and adolescent psychology. Volume 47(2018)Supplement 1
• Page Start: S161
• Page End: S175
• Publication Date: 2018-12-21
• Subjects: Child psychology -- Periodicals; Child psychiatry -- Periodicals; Adolescent psychology -- Periodicals; Adolescent psychiatry -- Periodicals; Adolescent Psychology -- Periodicals; Child Psychology -- Periodicals; Psychology, Clinical -- Periodicals; Adolescent psychiatry; Adolescent psychology; Child psychiatry; Child psychology; Periodicals; 155.4
• DOI: 10.1080/15374416.2016.1188698
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1537-4416

Abstract

Abstract : This study investigated the diagnostic and clinical utility of the parent-rated Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED-P) for detecting youth anxiety disorders. Youth ages 6 to 12 years, 11 months were recruited from 9 outpatient mental health clinics ( N = 707). Consensus diagnoses were based on semistructured interviews (Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children) with youth and caregivers; 31% were diagnosed with at least one anxiety disorder. Caregivers completed the SCARED-P to describe youth anxiety levels. SCARED-P scores were not considered during the consensus diagnoses. Areas under the curve (AUCs) from receiver operating characteristic analyses and diagnostic likelihood ratios (DLRs) quantified performance of the SCARED-P total score and subscale scores (generalized anxiety disorder and separation anxiety disorder). SCARED-P total scores had variable efficiency (AUCs = .69–.88), and Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Separation Anxiety subscale scores were excellent (AUCs = .86–.89) for identifying specific anxiety disorders. Optimal subscale cutoff scores were computed to help rule in (DLRs = 2.7–5.4) or rule out (DLRs < 1.0) anxiety disorders among youth. Results suggest that the Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Separation Anxiety SCARED-P subscales accurately identify their respective matched diagnoses. DLRs may aid clinicians in screening for youth anxiety disorders and improve accuracy of diagnosis.