Evidence-Based Strategies Improve Assessment of Pediatric Bipolar Disorder by Community Practitioners

A Systematic Review of Misdiagnosis of Pediatric Bipolar Disorder: Assessments and Recommendations

Bipolar disorders (BP) are a class of psychiatric disorders with a complex symptom presentation. This systematic review aims to summarize literature pertaining to the misdiagnosis of pediatric BP using the DSM-IV and DSM-5 criteria, while emphasizing the negative impact that untreated BP has on life outcomes. This paper also attempts to outline and summarize available recommendations which may aid in improving diagnostic accuracy of pediatric BP. Scholars Portal Journals, PsychINFO, and MEDLINE databases were used to search articles until March 21, 2023. Inclusion criteria limited this review to articles published between 1995 and 2022 using a pediatric (age < 18) sample. Exclusion criteria omitted articles containing samples with self-reported diagnoses. A total of 15 articles are included in this review; study results were synthesized using a narrative summary. Youth with BP are most frequently misdiagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD), schizophrenia, and major depressive disorder (MDD). Misdiagnosis can lead to inappropriate intervention plans and a delay in proper treatment, negatively impacting a child's quality of life by contributing to social, occupational, and economic adversity. Finally, this review addresses the need for future quantitative research on the implications of false negative diagnoses of pediatric BP.

A Structural Model of Organization and Clinician Factors Associated with Standardized Measure Use in a National Survey of Youth Mental Health Providers

Standardized assessment measures are important for accurate diagnosis of mental health problems and for treatment planning and evaluation. However, little is known about youth mental health providers' typical use of standardized measures across disciplines and outside the context of evidence-based practice initiatives. A multidisciplinary national survey examined the frequency with which 674 youth mental health providers administer standardized and unstandardized measures, and the extent to which organizational (i.e., implementation climate, rigid hierarchical organizational structure) and provider (i.e., attitudes toward standardized assessment measures, highest degree, practice setting) characteristics are associated with standardized measure use. Providers used unstandardized measures far more frequently than standardized measures. Providers' perceptions (a) that standardized measures are practical or feasible, (b) that their organization supports and values evidence-based practices, and (c) that their organization has a rigid hierarchical structure predicted greater use of standardized measures. Working in schools predicted less frequent SMU, while working in higher education and other professional settings predicted more frequent SMU. Standardized measures were not routinely used in this community-based sample. A rigid hierarchical organizational structure may be conducive to more frequent administration of standardized measures, but it is unclear whether such providers actually utilize these measures for clinical decision-making. Alternative strategies to promote standardized measure use may include promoting organizational cultures that value empirical data and encouraging use of standardized measures and training providers to use pragmatic standardized measures for clinical decision making.

Decreasing rate of inpatient pediatric bipolar disorder diagnosis in the US between 2004 and 2010

OBJECTIVES

Diagnosis of bipolar disorder (BD) increased substantially among youth between the mid-1990s and mid-2000s in the United States. This dramatic increase in diagnosis resulted in concern regarding the potential for misdiagnosis of BD among youth. However, the rate of BD diagnosis in the United States had not been evaluated nationally since the mid-2000s. It was unclear whether changes in diagnostic rates continued to occur. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the pattern of longitudinal trends in the rate of national inpatient BD diagnosis subsequent to 2004.

METHODS

Data included a nationally representative dataset of inpatient hospitalizations between 1996 and 2010. De-identified data were obtained from the National Hospital Discharge Survey (NHDS) conducted annually by the National Center for Health Statistics.

RESULTS

The proportion of BD diagnoses relative to all psychiatric diagnoses increased between 1996 and 2004 among children and adolescents. The proportion of BD diagnoses then decreased between 2004 and 2010 among children but continued to increase for adolescents. However, population-adjusted rates of BD diagnosis per 10,000 individuals in the general population initially increased until the mid-2000s and then decreased until 2010 for both children and adolescents.

CONCLUSIONS

Rates of BD diagnosis substantially decreased for youth between the mid-2000s and 2010. This decline coincided with recommendations for more conservative diagnostic practices due to concerns about overdiagnosis and increasing awareness of the side effects of front-line medications used to treat BD in youth. Findings provide insight into changing trends in inpatient service utilization for BD in the United States.

Decreasing rate of inpatient pediatric bipolar disorder diagnosis between 2005 and 2015

INTRODUCTION

The rate of bipolar disorder (BD) diagnosis in youth increased between the mid-1990s and mid-2000s in the U.S. and remained low in other countries. The discrepancy resulted in concerns regarding misdiagnosis of BD. However, the longitudinal trajectory of BD diagnosis subsequent to the mid-2000s was unclear. Therefore, the current study assessed longitudinal changes in the rate of inpatient BD diagnosis in the state of Nevada between 2005 and 2015.

METHODS

Data included Medicaid administrative billing claims (n = 48,108 unique admissions) for youth 5-17 hospitalized at one of five psychiatric inpatient hospitals in Nevada. Regressions assessed changes in the rate of diagnosis over time for BD and compared to depressive disorders (DD).

RESULTS

The rate of BD diagnosis declined between 2005 and 2015. The rate of DD diagnosis remained stable for boys and increased substantially for girls during the same time period.

LIMITATIONS

Some individuals may have been repeatedly hospitalized throughout the study period and contribute more than one unique admission. Findings from this study were limited to a sample of Medicaid-insured youth in a single state.

CONCLUSIONS

The rate of mood disorder diagnosis in inpatient units is changing. The use of BD as a diagnosis is decreasing in Nevada which may reflect US trends nationally, though still high by international comparison. In contrast, DD increased for girls but not boys. Awareness of the current diagnostic trends for BD may assist inpatient administrators and clinicians in preparing for anticipated service utilization and planning allocation of resources.

Informant discrepancies in assessments of psychosocial functioning in school-based services and research: Review and directions for future research

Psychosocial functioning plays a key role in students' wellbeing and performance inside and outside of school. As such, techniques designed to measure and improve psychosocial functioning factor prominently in school-based service delivery and research. Given that the different contexts (e.g., school, home, community) in which students exist vary in the degree to which they influence psychosocial functioning, educators and researchers often rely on multiple informants to characterize intervention targets, monitor intervention progress, and inform the selection of evidence-based services. These informants include teachers, students, and parents. Across research teams, domains, and measurement methodologies, researchers commonly observe discrepancies among informants' reports. We review theory and research-occurring largely outside of school-based service delivery and research-that demonstrates how patterns of informant discrepancies represent meaningful differences that can inform our understanding of psychosocial functioning. In turn, we advance a research agenda to improve use and interpretation of informant discrepancies in school-based services and research.

Family contributions to sport performance and their utility in predicting appropriate referrals to mental health optimization programmes

Limited research has examined the contributions of sport-specific family relationship problems to athlete mental health. In the current study we examined the extent to which collegiate athletes' family problems (as measured by the Student Athlete Relationship Instrument factors, SARI) predict athletes' general mental health distress and specific mental health symptoms that are relatively common in athletes (i.e. depression, anxiety, and drug and alcohol use). The study included 85 collegiate athletes (intramural, n = 26; club sport, n = 12; NCAA Division I, n = 47). We hypothesized that both general mental health distress and commonly evidenced mental health symptoms would be predicted by athletes' responses to the SARI factors (Poor Relationship and Lack of Support, General Pressure, Pressure to Quit or Continue Unsafely, Embarrassing Comments, and Negative Attitude). Results indicated that all of the aforementioned SARI factors predicted athletes' ratings of depression and general mental health distress levels. Only the General Pressure SARI factor predicted athletes' anxiety and drug use. Alcohol use was not predicted by any of the SARI factors. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses indicated that sport-specific problems in family relationships provided a good classification of athletes at risk for general mental health distress, depression, and anxiety. Practice implications are discussed in light of the results.

Psychology's Replication Crisis and Clinical Psychological Science

Despite psychological scientists' increasing interest in replicability, open science, research transparency, and the improvement of methods and practices, the clinical psychology community has been slow to engage. This has been shifting more recently, and with this review, we hope to facilitate this emerging dialogue. We begin by examining some potential areas of weakness in clinical psychology in terms of methods, practices, and evidentiary base. We then discuss a select overview of solutions, tools, and current concerns of the reform movement from a clinical psychological science perspective. We examine areas of clinical science expertise (e.g., implementation science) that should be leveraged to inform open science and reform efforts. Finally, we reiterate the call to clinical psychologists to increase their efforts toward reform that can further improve the credibility of clinical psychological science.

Discriminative Validity of the Dimensional Obsessive-Compulsive Scale for Separating Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder From Anxiety Disorders

Objective: We investigated the diagnostic efficiency and clinical utility of the Dimensional Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (DOCS) and subscales for distinguishing obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) from anxiety disorders (ADs). Method: A total of 369 participants (167 male, M_age = 29.61 years) diagnosed with DSM-IV OCD or AD, recruited from specialty clinics across the United States, completed clinical interviews and self-report questionnaires, including the DOCS. Receiver operating characteristic analyses and diagnostic likelihood ratios (DiLRs) determined discriminative validity and provided clinical utility. Logistic regressions tested for incremental validity in the DOCS-total scale and subscales in predicting OCD status. Results: The DOCS-total scale and Contamination subscale performed best in differentiating between OCD and AD diagnosis (DOCS-total: Area under curve [AUC] = .75, p < .001; Contamination: AUC = .70, p < .001) as compared with the other subscales. At high scores (DOCS-total: 28+, Contamination: 6+), Contamination was more effective than the DOCS-total in differentiating OCD from ADs, with high scores in Contamination quadrupling OCD odds and DOCS-total by about threefold (Contamination DiLR+ = 4.04, DOCS-total DiLR+ = 2.82). At low scores (DOCS-total: 0-9, Contamination: 0-2), the converse was true, with low scores in Contamination cutting OCD odds by half and DOCS-total by one fifths (Contamination DiLR- = 0.52, DOCS-total DiLR- = 0.23). Conclusion: At high scores, the Contamination subscale is the most helpful subscale to differentiate OCD and ADs. For low scores, the DOCS-total scale performs the best among the scales.

Evidence-Based Assessment from Simple Clinical Judgments to Statistical Learning: Evaluating a Range of Options Using Pediatric Bipolar Disorder as a Diagnostic Challenge

Reliability of clinical diagnoses is often low. There are many algorithms that could improve diagnostic accuracy, and statistical learning is becoming popular. Using pediatric bipolar disorder as a clinically challenging example, we evaluated a series of increasingly complex models ranging from simple screening to a supervised LASSO regression in a large (N=550) academic clinic sample. We then externally validated models in a community clinic (N=511) with the same candidate predictors and semi-structured interview diagnoses, providing high methodological consistency; the clinics also had substantially different demography and referral patterns. Models performed well according to internal validation metrics. Complex models degraded rapidly when externally validated. Naïve Bayesian and logistic models concentrating on predictors identified in prior meta-analyses tied or bettered LASSO models when externally validated. Implementing these methods would improve clinical diagnostic performance. Statistical learning research should continue to invest in high quality indicators and diagnoses to supervise model training.

Assessing for suicidal behavior in youth using the Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment

This study investigated the clinical utility of the Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment (ASEBA) for identifying youth at risk for suicide. Specifically, we investigated how well the Total Problems scores and the sum of two suicide-related items (#18 "Deliberately harms self or attempts suicide" and #91 "Talks about killing self") were able to distinguish youth with a history of suicidal behavior. Youth (N = 1117) aged 5-18 were recruited for two studies of mental illness. History of suicidal behavior was assessed by semi-structured interviews (K-SADS) with youth and caregivers. Youth, caregivers, and a primary teacher each completed the appropriate form (YSR, CBCL, and TRF, respectively) of the ASEBA. Areas under the curve (AUCs) from ROC analyses and diagnostic likelihood ratios (DLRs) were used to measure the ability of both Total Problems T scores, as well as the summed score of two suicide-related items, to identify youth with a history of suicidal behavior. The Suicide Items from the CBCL and YSR performed well (AUCs = 0.85 and 0.70, respectively). The TRF Suicide Items did not perform better than chance, AUC = 0.45. The AUCs for the Total Problems scores were poor-to-fair (0.33-0.65). The CBCL Suicide Items outperformed all other scores (ps = 0.04 to <0.0005). Combining the CBCL and YSR items did not lead to incremental improvement in prediction over the CBCL alone. The sum of two questions from a commonly used assessment tool can offer important information about a youth's risk for suicidal behavior. The low burden of this approach could facilitate wide-spread screening for suicide in an increasingly at-risk population.

Diagnostic Accuracy of the CASI-4R Psychosis Subscale for Children Evaluated in Pediatric Outpatient Clinics

Diagnostic accuracy of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-oriented Child and Adolescent Symptom Inventory (CASI-4R) Psychotic Symptoms scale was tested using receiver operating characteristic analyses to identify clinically significant psychotic symptoms. Participants were new outpatients (N = 700), ages 6.0 to 12.9 years (M = 9.7, SD = 1.8) at 9 child outpatient mental health clinics, who participated in the Longitudinal Assessment of Manic Symptoms (LAMS) Study baseline assessment. Because LAMS undersampled participants with low mania scores by design, present analyses weighted low scorers to produce unbiased estimates. Psychotic symptoms, operationally defined as a score of 3 or more for hallucinations or 4 or more for delusions based on the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia (K-SADS) psychosis items, occurred in 7% of youth. K-SADS diagnoses for those identified with psychotic symptoms above threshold included major depressive disorder, bipolar spectrum disorder, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, psychotic disorders, and autism spectrum disorder. The optimal psychosis screening cut score (maximizing sensitivity and specificity) was 2.75+ (corresponding diagnostic likelihood ratio [DiLR] = 4.29) for the parent version and 3.50+ (DiLR = 5.67) for the teacher version. The Area under the Curve for parent and teacher report was .83 and .74 (both p < .001). Parent report performed significantly better than teacher report for identifying psychotic symptoms above threshold (p = .03). The CASI-4R Psychosis subscale (J) appears clinically useful for identifying psychotic symptoms in children because of its brevity and accuracy.

The International Society for Bipolar Disorders Task Force report on pediatric bipolar disorder: Knowledge to date and directions for future research

OBJECTIVES

Over the past two decades, there has been tremendous growth in research regarding bipolar disorder (BD) among children and adolescents (ie, pediatric BD [PBD]). The primary purpose of this article is to distill the extant literature, dispel myths or exaggerated assertions in the field, and disseminate clinically relevant findings.

METHODS

An international group of experts completed a selective review of the literature, emphasizing areas of consensus, identifying limitations and gaps in the literature, and highlighting future directions to mitigate these gaps.

RESULTS

Substantial, and increasingly international, research has accumulated regarding the phenomenology, differential diagnosis, course, treatment, and neurobiology of PBD. Prior division around the role of irritability and of screening tools in diagnosis has largely abated. Gold-standard pharmacologic trials inform treatment of manic/mixed episodes, whereas fewer data address bipolar depression and maintenance/continuation treatment. Adjunctive psychosocial treatment provides a forum for psychoeducation and targets primarily depressive symptoms. Numerous neurocognitive and neuroimaging studies, and increasing peripheral biomarker studies, largely converge with prior findings from adults with BD.

CONCLUSIONS

As data have accumulated and controversy has dissipated, the field has moved past existential questions about PBD toward defining and pursuing pressing clinical and scientific priorities that remain. The overall body of evidence supports the position that perceptions about marked international (US vs elsewhere) and developmental (pediatric vs adult) differences have been overstated, although additional research on these topics is warranted. Traction toward improved outcomes will be supported by continued emphasis on pathophysiology and novel therapeutics.

Clinical Decision-Making Following Disasters: Efficient Identification of PTSD Risk in Adolescents

The present study aimed to utilize a Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) approach in order to improve clinical decision-making for adolescents at risk for the development of psychopathology in the aftermath of a natural disaster. Specifically we assessed theoretically-driven individual, interpersonal, and event-related vulnerability factors to determine which indices were most accurate in forecasting PTSD. Furthermore, we aimed to translate these etiological findings by identifying clinical cut-off recommendations for relevant vulnerability factors. Our study consisted of structured phone-based clinical interviews with 2000 adolescent-parent dyads living within a 5-mile radius of tornados that devastated Joplin, MO, and northern Alabama in Spring 2011. Demographics, tornado incident characteristics, prior trauma, mental health, and family support and conflict were assessed. A subset of youth completed two behavioral assessment tasks online to assess distress tolerance and risk-taking behavior. ROC analyses indicated four variables that significantly improved PTSD diagnostic efficiency: Lifetime depression (AUC = .90), trauma history (AUC = .76), social support (AUC = .70), and family conflict (AUC = .72). Youth were 2-3 times more likely to have PTSD if they had elevated scores on any of these variables. Of note, event-related characteristics (e.g., property damage) were not related to PTSD diagnostic status. The present study adds to the literature by making specific recommendations for empirically-based, efficient disaster-related PTSD assessment for adolescents following a natural disaster. Implications for practice and future trauma-related developmental psychopathology research are discussed.

Evidence-based assessment of ADHD diagnosis in children and adolescents

This study illustrates the accuracy and efficiency of using an evidence-based assessment (EBA) strategy for diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) by integrating the scale scores obtained on BASC-3 teacher and parent rating scales. The examined process used empirical diagnostic likelihood ratios (DLRs) derived from a sample of children with ADHD (N = 339) matched on demographic characteristics from the normative sample. The results show that behavioral scales of executive functioning and functional communication provided incremental utility in ADHD diagnosis. With a revised probability of .80 or higher as the diagnostic criterion, teachers, and parents positively diagnosed 70% and 94% of the ADHD cases respectively. The EBA approach was efficient, with four scales on average used to reach the proposed posterior probability for final diagnosis. Finally, teachers and parents demonstrated a high agreement with respect to the diagnosis results and scales used for the diagnosis.

Accuracy of Achenbach Scales in the Screening of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in a Community Mental Health Clinic

OBJECTIVE

To use receiver-operating characteristics analysis to identify multilevel diagnostic likelihood ratios and provide a framework for the diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children (5-10 years old) and adolescents (11-18 years old) in an outpatient setting.

METHOD

Caregiver, teacher, and youth reports from the Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment (ASEBA) were obtained for 299 children and 321 adolescents with multiple imputation of missing data. The reference standard was diagnosis of ADHD based on case history and a semistructured diagnostic interview masked to the ASEBA measurements.

RESULTS

In children, caregiver-reported Attention Problems (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.74) outperformed all other subscales of the caregiver and teacher measures (AUCs ≤ 0.72). In the older sample, caregiver- and teacher-reported Attention Problems (caregiver AUC = 0.73; teacher AUC = 0.61) were best at identifying ADHD. Inclusion of caregiver and teacher reports significantly (p < .001 for all comparisons) increased prediction of ADHD diagnosis, whereas youth self-report did not.

CONCLUSION

Caregiver-reported Attention Problems were more useful than teacher-reports and self-report in identifying ADHD. Combining caregiver and teacher reports improved identification. Multilevel likelihood ratios are provided to facilitate routine clinical use.

Comparing the CASI-4R and the PGBI-10 M for Differentiating Bipolar Spectrum Disorders from Other Outpatient Diagnoses in Youth

We compared 2 rating scales with different manic symptom items on diagnostic accuracy for detecting pediatric bipolar spectrum disorder (BPSDs) in outpatient mental health clinics. Participants were 681 parents/guardians of eligible children (465 male, mean age = 9.34) who completed the Parent General Behavior Inventory-10-item Mania (PGBI-10 M) and mania subscale of the Child and Adolescent Symptom Inventory-Revised (CASI-4R). Diagnoses were based on KSADS interviews with parent and youth. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses and diagnostic likelihood ratios (DLRs) determined discriminative validity and provided clinical utility, respectively. Logistic regressions tested for incremental validity in the CASI-4R mania subscale and PGBI-10 M in predicting youth BPSD status above and beyond demographic and common diagnostic comorbidities. Both CASI-4R and PGBI-10 M scales significantly distinguished BPSD (N = 160) from other disorders (CASI-4R: Area under curve (AUC) = .80, p < 0.0005; PGBI-10 M: AUC = 0.79, p < 0.0005) even though scale items differed. Both scales performed equally well in differentiating BPSDs (Venkatraman test p > 0.05). Diagnostic likelihood ratios indicated low scores on either scale (CASI: 0-5; PGBI-10 M: 0-6) cut BPSD odds to 1/5 of those with high scores (CASI DLR- = 0.17; PGBI-10 M DLR- = 0.18). High scores on either scale (CASI: 14+; PGBI-10 M: 20+) increased BPSD odds about fourfold (CASI DLR+ = 4.53; PGBI-10 M DLR+ = 3.97). Logistic regressions indicated the CASI-4R mania subscale and PGBI-10 M each provided incremental validity in predicting youth BPSD status. The CASI-4R is at least as valid as the PGBI-10 M to help identify BPSDs, and can be considered as part of an assessment battery to screen for pediatric BPSDs.

Diagnostic Efficiency of the Child and Adolescent Symptom Inventory (CASI-4R) Depression Subscale for Identifying Youth Mood Disorders

This study examined the diagnostic and clinical utility of the Child and Adolescent Symptom Inventory-4 R (CASI-4 R) Depressive and Dysthymia subscale for detecting mood disorders in youth (ages 6-12; M = 9.37) visiting outpatient mental health clinics. Secondary analyses (N = 700) utilized baseline data from the Longitudinal Assessment of Manic Symptoms study. Semistructured interviews with youth participants and their parents/caregivers determined psychiatric diagnoses. Caregivers and teachers completed the CASI-4 R. CASI-4 R depressive symptom severity and symptom count scores each predicted mood disorder diagnoses. Both caregiver scores (symptom severity and symptom count) of the CASI-4 R subscale significantly identified youth mood disorders (areas under the curve [AUCs] = .78-.79, ps < .001). The symptom severity version showed a small but significant advantage. Teacher symptom severity report did not significantly predict mood disorder diagnosis (AUC = .56, p > .05), whereas the teacher symptom count report corresponded to a small effect size (AUC = .61, p < .05). The CASI-4 R Depression scale showed strong incrememental validity even controlling for the other CASI-4 R scales. Caregiver subscale cutoff scores were calculated to assist in ruling in (diagnostic likelihood ratio [DLR] = 3.73) or ruling out (DLR = 0.18) presence of a mood disorder. The CASI-4 R Depressive subscale caregiver report can help identify youth mood disorders, and using DLRs may help improve diagnostic accuracy.

An ISBD perspective on the sociocultural challenges of managing bipolar disorder: A content analysis

OBJECTIVE

Clinical management of bipolar disorder patients might be affected by culture and is further dependent on the context of healthcare delivery. There is a need to understand how healthcare best can be delivered in various systems and cultures. The objective of this qualitative study was to gain knowledge about culture-specific values, beliefs and practices in the medical care provided to patients with bipolar disorders from a provider perspective in various areas of the world.

SAMPLING AND METHODS

The International Society for Bipolar Disorders (ISBD) network provided the framework for this qualitative study. An electronic interview with open-ended questions was administered to 19 international experts on bipolar spectrum disorder representing the International Society for Bipolar Disorders chapter network in 16 countries and six continents. In addition, there were two in-depth interviews with bipolar spectrum disorder experts done prior to the survey. The data were analysed using content analysis, and the information was structured using the software NVivo by QSR International Pty Ltd.

FINDINGS

All participants described sociocultural factors as important in healthcare delivery to bipolar patients in their part of the world, both in accessing healthcare and in providing culturally appropriate care. Factors that affected the provider's ability to supply good clinical management of patients were access to treatment options and long-term follow-up, as well as general strategies to combat stigma. In some societies, the patients' use of alternative treatments, gender issues and religion were also important factors. Understanding the impact of such culturally specific factors was overall regarded as essential for proper treatment interventions.

CONCLUSION

Sociocultural factors clearly affect the nature and quality of medical services delivered to bipolar patients. Financial, social and cultural factors affect patients' health-seeking behaviour, and this highlights the need for knowledge about such factors in order to adequately identify and treat bipolar patients globally. Culturally adapted training and psychoeducation programmes are particularly warranted.

Diagnostic efficiency of the SDQ for parents to identify ADHD in the UK: a ROC analysis

Early, accurate identification of ADHD would improve outcomes while avoiding unnecessary medication exposure for non-ADHD youths, but is challenging, especially in primary care. The aim of this paper is to test the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) using a nationally representative sample to develop scoring weights for clinical use. The British Child and Adolescent Mental Health Survey (N = 18,232 youths 5-15 years old) included semi-structured interview DSM-IV diagnoses and parent-rated SDQ scores. Areas under the curve for SDQ subscales were good (0.81) to excellent (0.96) across sex and age groups. Hyperactivity/inattention scale scores of 10+ increased odds of ADHD by 21.3×. For discriminating ADHD from other diagnoses, accuracy was fair (<0.70) to good (0.88); Hyperactivity/inattention scale scores of 10+ increased odds of ADHD by 4.47×. The SDQ is free, easy to score, and provides clinically meaningful changes in odds of ADHD that can guide clinical decision-making in an evidence-based medicine framework.

Diagnostic Efficiency of Caregiver Report on the SCARED for Identifying Youth Anxiety Disorders in Outpatient Settings

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.

Advancing the Scientific Foundation for Evidence-Based Practice in Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology

Evidence-based practice (EBP) has become a central focus in clinical child and adolescent psychology. As originally defined, EBP in psychology is the integration of the best available research evidence, patient characteristics, and clinical expertise. Although evidence-based perspectives have garnered widespread acceptance in recent years, there has also been some confusion and disagreement about the 3-part definition of EBP, particularly the role of research. In this article, we first provide a brief review of the development of EBP in clinical child and adolescent psychology. Next, we outline the following 4 points to help clarify the understanding of EBP: (a) knowledge should not be confused with epistemic processes, (b) research on clinician and client factors is needed for EBP, (c) research on assessment is needed for EBP, and (d) the 3-part conceptualization of EBP can serve as a useful framework to guide research. Based on these principles, we put forth a slightly revised conceptualization of EBP, in which the role of research is expanded and more clearly operationalized. Finally, based on our review of the literature, we offer illustrative examples of specific directions for future research to advance the evidence base for EBP in clinical child and adolescent psychology.

A randomized controlled trial of cognitive debiasing improves assessment and treatment selection for pediatric bipolar disorder

OBJECTIVE

This study examined the efficacy of a new cognitive debiasing intervention in reducing decision-making errors in the assessment of pediatric bipolar disorder (PBD).

METHOD

The study was a randomized controlled trial using case vignette methodology. Participants were 137 mental health professionals working in different regions of the United States (M = 8.6 ± 7.5 years of experience). Participants were randomly assigned to a (a) brief overview of PBD (control condition), or (b) the same brief overview plus a cognitive debiasing intervention (treatment condition) that educated participants about common cognitive pitfalls (e.g., base-rate neglect, search satisficing) and taught corrective strategies (e.g., mnemonics, Bayesian tools). Both groups evaluated 4 identical case vignettes. Primary outcome measures were clinicians' diagnoses and treatment decisions. The vignette characters' race or ethnicity was experimentally manipulated.

RESULTS

Participants in the treatment group showed better overall judgment accuracy, p < .001, and committed significantly fewer decision-making errors, p < .001. Inaccurate and somewhat accurate diagnostic decisions were significantly associated with different treatment and clinical recommendations, particularly in cases where participants missed comorbid conditions, failed to detect the possibility of hypomania or mania in depressed youths, and misdiagnosed classic manic symptoms. In contrast, effects of patient race were negligible.

CONCLUSIONS

The cognitive debiasing intervention outperformed the control condition. Examining specific heuristics in cases of PBD may identify especially problematic mismatches between typical habits of thought and characteristics of the disorder. The debiasing intervention was brief and delivered via the Web; it has the potential to generalize and extend to other diagnoses as well as to various practice and training settings.

Comparing the Diagnostic Accuracy of Five Instruments for Detecting Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Youth

The purpose of the study was to compare diagnostic accuracy of five posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) measures in a large outpatient sample of youths 11-18 years of age. Index tests included a parent report (a rationally derived scale from the Child Behavioral Checklist), a teacher report (the Teacher Report Form), and three youth reports-a PTSD scale from the Youth Self Report (YSR), Child PTSD Symptom Scale, and Child and Adolescent Trauma Survey. Interviews with the youth and caregiver using Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children generated criterion diagnoses of PTSD. Diagnoses were blind to scores on the index tests. Based on consensus diagnoses (N = 458), 10% of youth had PTSD. Area under the curve (AUC) from receiver operating characteristic analyses and multilevel likelihood ratios evaluated test performance. All youth reports (AUCs .67-.73) outperformed the teacher report (AUCs .42-.48) at identifying PTSD. The YSR outperformed the caregiver reports (AUCs .57-.58). Combining tests did not improve prediction of PTSD. The YSR predicted PTSD even after controlling for a self-reported traumatic event, but checklist ratings of traumatic events had no incremental value after controlling for YSR scores. When a youth endorsed few symptoms, the likelihood of the youth having PTSD was low. Very high scores on the YSR were associated with a moderate increase in the likelihood of PTSD diagnosis. The YSR appeared to be a useful diagnostic aid for youth PTSD and could facilitate differential diagnosis of youth PTSD in outpatient settings.

Implementing clinical outcomes assessment in everyday school mental health practice

Evidence-based assessment (EBA) has been shown to improve clinical outcomes, but this practice is frequently not implemented in school mental health practice. This article reviews potential barriers to implementation and offers practical strategies for addressing these challenges. Several valid and reliable tools for assessment are reviewed, and information is provided on clinical use. Case examples of EBA implementation in school mental health settings are provided to illustrate how these tools can be used in everyday practice by school mental health clinicians.

Structural invariance of General Behavior Inventory (GBI) scores in Black and White young adults

In the United States, Black and White individuals show discrepant rates of diagnosis of bipolar disorder versus schizophrenia and antisocial personality disorder, as well as disparate access to and utilization of treatment for these disorders (e.g., Alegria, Chatterji, et al., 2008; Chrishon, Anderson, Arora, & Bailey, 2012). Such diagnostic discrepancies might stem from racially related cognitive biases in clinical judgment or from racial biases in measurements of bipolar disorder. The General Behavior Inventory (GBI) is among the most well-validated and widely used measures of bipolar mood symptoms, but the psychometric properties of the GBI have been examined primarily in predominantly White samples. In this study, we used multigroup confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) to examine the invariance of GBI scores across racial groups with a nonclinical sample. Fit was acceptable for tests of configural invariance, equal factor loadings, and equal intercepts, but not invariance of residuals. Findings indicate that GBI scores provide functionally invariant measurement of mood symptoms in both Black and White samples. The use of GBI scores may contribute consistent information to clinical assessments and could potentially reduce diagnostic discrepancies and associated differences in access to and utilization of mental health services.

Clinical Decision-Making in Community Children's Mental Health: Using Innovative Methods to Compare Clinicians With and Without Training in Evidence-Based Treatment

BACKGROUND

Mental health professionals' decision-making practice is an area of increasing interest and importance, especially in the pediatric research and clinical communities.

OBJECTIVE

The present study explored the role of prior training in evidence-based treatments on clinicians' assessment and treatment formulations using case vignettes. Specifically, study aims included using the Naturalistic Decision Making (NDM) cognitive theory to 1) examine potential associations between EBT training and decision-making processes (novice versus expert type), and 2) explore how client and family contextual information affects clinical decision-making.

METHODS

Forty-eight clinicians across two groups (EBT trained=14, Not EBT trained=34) participated. Clinicians were comparable on professional experience, demographics, and discipline. The quasi-experimental design used an analog "think aloud" method where clinicians read case vignettes about a child with disruptive behavior problems and verbalized case conceptualization and treatment planning out-loud. Responses were coded according to NDM theory.

RESULTS

MANOVA results were significant for EBT training status such that EBT trained clinicians' displayed cognitive processes more closely aligned with "expert" decision-makers and non-EBT trained clinicians' decision processes were more similar to "novice" decision-makers, following NDM theory. Non-EBT trained clinicians assigned significantly more diagnoses, provided less detailed treatment plans and discussed fewer EBTs. Parent/family contextual information also appeared to influence decision-making.

CONCLUSION

This study offers a preliminary investigation of the possible broader impacts of EBT training and potential associations with development of expert decision-making skills. Targeting clinicians' decision-making may be an important avenue to pursue within dissemination-implementation efforts in mental health practice.

A Review of Child and Adolescent Diagnostic Interviews for Clinical Practitioners

The publication of the DSM-5 poses a challenge for many interview instruments due to the changes for many of the diagnoses. Six of the more widely used and studied interview instruments (structured and semistructured) were reviewed with a focus on usefulness for the practicing clinician and researcher. Use of these types of assessment procedures can facilitate the accuracy of diagnoses given by potentially reducing clinician bias. Each interview instrument varied in its strengths and characteristics related to amount of flexibility associated with administration of items; breadth of coverage of diagnoses based on DSM-IV; time required for administration; presence of screening items or modular format; and psychometric support for its reliability and validity, as well as amount of training required for use, and costs associated with acquiring and learning the format. Recommendations were made regarding the utilization of different instruments for specific diagnostic questions along with future recommendations for enhancing the format and utility of these instruments, especially in relation to the publication of the DSM-5.

Unfiltered Administration of the YMRS and CDRS-R in a Clinical Sample of Children

The objective of this study is to evaluate discriminative validity of the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) and Children's Depression Rating Scale-Revised (CDRS-R) in a clinical sample of children when administered in an unfiltered manner (i.e., regardless of whether symptoms occur in a mood episode). The Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia is the gold standard for assessing psychiatric disorders in children and was used to make diagnoses in this study. Using a sample of 707 treatment-seeking youth (ages 6-12 years, Mage = 9.7 years, 67.6% male), receiver operating curve analyses were performed and diagnostic likelihood ratios (DLRs) were calculated to evaluate the ability to change the odds and differentiate bipolar disorder from other disorders (using the YMRS) and depression from other disorders (using the CDRS-R). Using unfiltered administration, the YMRS achieved good discriminative validity when classifying bipolar disorder compared to other disorders (Area Under the Curve [AUC] = .86) and increased odds of a bipolar diagnosis given a score in the highest quintile (DLR = 6.12). Using unfiltered administration, the CDRS-R achieved moderate to good discriminative validity in classifying depressive disorders (DD) compared to other disorders (AUCBD in comparison = .78; AUCBD not in comparison = .84) and slightly increased odds of DD given a score in the highest quintile (DLRBD in comparison = 3.12; DLRBD not in comparison = 5.08). The YMRS and CDRS-R have moderate to good discriminative validity when administered in an unfiltered way in a sample of treatment seeking youth.

The Arabic Mood and Feelings Questionnaire: psychometrics and validity in a clinical sample

The purpose of this study was to provide clinicians in the Arab World with a child and adolescent depression screening tool. Child and parent versions of the Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (CMFQ and PMFQ respectively) were translated to Arabic and administered along with the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) to 30 children and adolescents and with mood disorders and 76 children and adolescents with other psychiatric disorders seeking treatment at a child and adolescent psychiatry clinic. DSM-IV diagnoses were generated through clinical interviews by a psychiatrist blinded to self-reports. Internal consistency for both versions was excellent with moderate inter-informant agreement and good convergent validity with the SDQ emotional symptoms subscales on the child and parent forms. The CMFQ and PMFQ significantly differentiated between currently depressed participants and those with other psychiatric disorders. CMFQ scores were a stronger predictor of categorization into depressed and non-depressed groups than the PMFQ. Two modes of cutoffs were calculated with one favoring sensitivity (a score of 26 for the CMFQ and 22 for the PMFQ) and another favoring specificity (a score of 31 for the CMFQ and 28 for the PMFQ).

A comparison of American and English hospital discharge rates for pediatric bipolar disorder, 2000 to 2010

OBJECTIVE

Controversy exists over the diagnosis and prevalence of pediatric bipolar disorder (PBD). Although several small surveys suggest that the rate of the PBD diagnosis in clinical settings is higher in the United States than in other countries, no comprehensive cross-national comparisons of clinical practice have been performed. Here, we used longitudinal national datasets from 2000 to 2010 to compare US and English hospital discharge rates for PBD in patients aged 1 to 19 years.

METHOD

We used the English National Health Service (NHS) Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) dataset and the United States National Hospital Discharge Survey (NHDS) to compare US and English discharge rates for PBD (bipolar I disorder [BP-I], bipolar II disorder [BP-II], bipolar disorder not otherwise specified [BP-NOS], and cyclothymia). We also conducted cross-national comparisons for all other psychiatric diagnoses in youth and for adults with bipolar disorder (BD).

RESULTS

There was a 72.1-fold difference in discharge rates for PBD in youth between the United States and England (United States, 100.9 per 100,000 population, 95% confidence interval = 98.1-103.8, versus England, 1.4 per 100,000 population, 95% CI = 1.4-1.5). After controlling for cross-national differences in length of stay, discharge rates for PBD remained 12.5 times higher in the United States than in England. For all other child psychiatric diagnoses, the discharge rate was 3.9-fold higher, and for adults with BD 7.2-fold higher, in the United States than in England.

CONCLUSION

The disparity between US and English discharge rates for PBD is markedly greater than the disparity for child psychiatric discharge rates overall and for adult rates of BD. This suggests that the difference in discharge rates for PBD may be due to differing diagnostic practices for PBD in the United States versus in England.

Clinical decision making about child and adolescent anxiety disorders using the Achenbach system of empirically based assessment

Anxiety disorders are common among children but can be difficult to diagnose. An actuarial approach to the diagnosis of anxiety may improve the efficiency and accuracy of the process. The objectives of this study were to determine the clinical utility of the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and Youth Self Report (YSR), two widely used assessment tools, for diagnosing anxiety disorders in youth and to aid clinicians in incorporating scale scores into an actuarial approach to diagnosis through a clinical vignette. Demographically diverse youth, 5 to 18 years of age, were drawn from two samples; one (N = 1,084) was recruited from a research center, and the second (N = 651) was recruited from an urban community mental health center. Consensus diagnoses integrated information from semistructured interview, family history, treatment history, and clinical judgment. The CBCL and YSR internalizing problems T scores discriminated cases with any anxiety disorder or with generalized anxiety disorder from all other diagnoses in both samples (ps < .0005); the two scales had equivalent discriminative validity (ps > .05 for tests of difference). No other scales, nor any combination of scales, significantly improved on the performance of the Internalizing scale. In the highest risk group, Internalizing scores greater than 69 (CBCL) or greater than 63 (YSR) resulted in a Diagnostic Likelihood Ratio of 1.5; low scores reduced the likelihood of anxiety disorders by a factor of 4. Combined with other risk factor information in an actuarial approach to assessment and diagnosis, the CBCL and YSR Internalizing scales provide valuable information about whether a youth is likely suffering from an anxiety disorder.

Frontotemporal White Matter in Adolescents with, and at-Risk for, Bipolar Disorder

Frontotemporal neural systems are highly implicated in the emotional dysregulation characteristic of bipolar disorder (BD). Convergent genetic, postmortem, behavioral and neuroimaging evidence suggests abnormalities in the development of frontotemporal white matter (WM) in the pathophysiology of BD. This review discusses evidence for the involvement of abnormal WM development in BD during adolescence, with a focus on frontotemporal WM. Findings from diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) studies in adults and adolescents are reviewed to explore possible progressive WM abnormalities in the disorder. Intra- and interhemispheric frontotemporal abnormalities were reported in adults with BD. Although evidence in children and adolescents with BD to date has been limited, similar intrahemispheric and interhemispheric findings have also been reported. The findings in youths suggest that these abnormalities may represent a trait marker present early in the course of BD. Functional connectivity studies, demonstrating a relationship between WM abnormalities and frontotemporal dysfunction in BD, and DTI studies of vulnerability in first-degree relatives of individuals with BD, are discussed. Together, findings suggest the involvement of abnormal frontotemporal WM development in the pathophysiology of BD and that these abnormalities may be early trait markers of vulnerability; however, more studies are critically needed.

A primer on receiver operating characteristic analysis and diagnostic efficiency statistics for pediatric psychology: we are ready to ROC

OBJECTIVE

To offer a practical demonstration of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses, diagnostic efficiency statistics, and their application to clinical decision making using a popular parent checklist to assess for potential mood disorder.

METHOD

Secondary analyses of data from 589 families seeking outpatient mental health services, completing the Child Behavior Checklist and semi-structured diagnostic interviews.

RESULTS

Internalizing Problems raw scores discriminated mood disorders significantly better than did age- and gender-normed T scores, or an Affective Problems score. Internalizing scores <8 had a diagnostic likelihood ratio <0.3, and scores >30 had a diagnostic likelihood ratio of 7.4.

CONCLUSIONS

This study illustrates a series of steps in defining a clinical problem, operationalizing it, selecting a valid study design, and using ROC analyses to generate statistics that support clinical decisions. The ROC framework offers important advantages for clinical interpretation. Appendices include sample scripts using SPSS and R to check assumptions and conduct ROC analyses.

Differentiating bipolar disorder from unipolar depression and ADHD: the utility of the general behavior inventory

Adolescence and early adulthood are the peak ages for the onset of unipolar and bipolar mood disorders. Moreover, for most individuals with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), symptoms and impairment begin in childhood but persist well into adolescence and adulthood (e.g., Barkley, 2010). Thus, adolescence and early adulthood represent a developmental window wherein individuals can be affected by mood disorders, ADHD, or both. Because treatment protocols for unipolar depression (UPD), bipolar disorder (BD), and ADHD are quite different, it is crucial that assessment instruments used among adolescents and young adults differentiate between these disorders. The primary objectives of this study were to evaluate the predictive and diagnostic validity of General Behavior Inventory (GBI; Depue et al., 1981) scores in discriminating BD from UPD and ADHD. Participants were drawn from adolescent (n = 361) and young adult (n = 614) samples. Based on findings from logistic regression and receiver-operating characteristics analyses, the diagnostic efficiency of the GBI scales range from fair (discriminating UPD from BD) to good (discriminating BD participants from nonclinical controls). Multilevel diagnostic likelihood ratios are also provided to facilitate individual decision making.

Bipolar disorder in children

Although bipolar disorder historically was thought to only occur rarely in children and adolescents, there has been a significant increase in children and adolescents who are receiving this diagnosis more recently (Carlson, 2005). Nonetheless, the applicability of the current bipolar disorder diagnostic criteria for children, particularly preschool children, remains unclear, even though much work has been focused on this area. As a result, more work needs to be done to further the understanding of bipolar symptoms in children. It is hoped that this paper can assist psychologists and other health service providers in gleaning a snapshot of the literature in this area so that they can gain an understanding of the diagnostic criteria and other behaviors that may be relevant and be informed about potential approaches for assessment and treatment with children who meet bipolar disorder criteria. First, the history of bipolar symptoms and current diagnostic criteria will be discussed. Next, assessment strategies that may prove helpful for identifying bipolar disorder will be discussed. Then, treatments that may have relevance to children and their families will be discussed. Finally, conclusions regarding work with children who may have a bipolar disorder diagnosis will be offered.

Bipolar disorder in children: assessment in general pediatric practice

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Pediatricians are increasingly confronted with the mental health needs of children. Given the unanticipated role, well-described diagnostic guidelines and treatment protocols are essential: but often lacking. Identification of bipolar disorder in children, a condition which lacks diagnostic criteria consensus, presents a particular challenge. Despite this, it is generally regarded as a condition associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. Extended delays to treatment, typical for the condition, contribute to significantly reduced adult functionality.

RECENT FINDINGS

Most children with bipolar disorder exhibit a subsyndromal course of illness. This has prompted many investigative groups to explore whether such a presentation is developmental or unique. Despite the ongoing debate, there has been a rapid increase in the rate of diagnoses. Concurrently, breakthroughs in neurology, neuroimaging, and genetics have called into question the existing conceptually based psychiatric constructs altogether. New research approaches which reflect these advances are more likely to lead to evidence-based diagnosis and treatment. Such an example is a novel phenotype called Fear of Harm (FOH). A new research perspective resulted in the unification of a broad range of symptoms from bipolar disorder as well as many of the co-occurring disorders. When considered as a whole, the syndrome maps on to a known neural pathway and has led investigators to a putative biomarker.

SUMMARY

If given the right information and tools, pediatricians are uniquely positioned to interrupt the decline caused by mental illnesses. Importantly, the newly defined FOH syndrome includes clinical symptoms which are frequently first brought to the attention of pediatricians. Although these symptoms are not exclusive to the mood disorder, they could alert pediatricians to the need for further evaluation.

An inexpensive family index of risk for mood issues improves identification of pediatric bipolar disorder

Family history of mental illness provides important information when evaluating pediatric bipolar disorder (PBD). However, such information is often challenging to gather within clinical settings. This study investigates the feasibility and utility of gathering family history information using an inexpensive method practical for outpatient settings. Families (N=273) completed family history, rating scales, and the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (Sheehan et al., 1998) and the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children (Kaufman et al., 1997) about youths 5-18 (median=11) years of age presenting to an outpatient clinic. Primary caregivers completed a half-page Family Index of Risk for Mood issues (FIRM). All families completed the FIRM quickly and easily. Most (78%) reported 1+ relatives having a history of mood or substance issues (M=3.7, SD=3.3). A simple sum of familial mood issues discriminated cases with PBD from all other cases (area under receiver operating characteristic [AUROC]=.63, p=.006). FIRM scores were specific to youth mood disorder and not attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder or disruptive behavior disorder. FIRM scores significantly improved the detection of PBD even controlling for rating scales. No subset of family risk items performed better than the total. Family history information showed clinically meaningful discrimination of PBD. Two different approaches to clinical interpretation showed validity in these clinically realistic data. Inexpensive and clinically practical methods of gathering family history can help to improve the detection of PBD.

Clinical significance of treatment effects with aripiprazole versus placebo in a study of manic or mixed episodes associated with pediatric bipolar I disorder

OBJECTIVE

Published studies in adult and pediatric bipolar disorder have used different definitions of treatment response. This analysis aimed to compare different definitions of response in a large sample of children and adolescents.

METHODS

Anexploratory analysis of a 4-week, multicenter, placebo-controlled study assessed patients (n=296; ages, 10-17 years) with an acute manic/mixed episode associated with BIPOLAR I disorder who were randomized to aripiprazole (10 or 30 mg/day) or placebo. The primary efficacy endpoint was mean change from baseline to week 4 in young mania rating scale (YMRS) total score. Additional assessments included: clinical global impressions-bipolar disorder (CGI-BP) Overall and mania scales, child global assessment scale (CGAS), and parent and subject general behavior inventory. Response was compared across seven operational definitions. Cohen's κ and Spearman's correlation tested relationships between various response definitions or changes in outcome measures and clinically meaningful improvement (defined as a CGI-BP overall improvement score of 1 or 2).

RESULTS

Response rates varied depending upon the operational definition, but were highest for 95% reliable change (statistical method used to determine individual change from previous assessment) and ≥33% reduction in YMRS total score. Response rate definitions with the highest validity in terms of predicting clinically meaningful improvement were: ≥50% reduction on YMRS (κ=0.64), a composite definition of response (YMRS <12.5, children's depression rating scale-revised (CDRS-R) ≤40, and CGAS ≥51; κ=0.59), and 95% reliable change on the CGAS or 33% reduction on YMRS (κ=0.56). Parent ratings of symptoms were generally better at detecting symptom improvement than were subject ratings (κ=∼0.4-0.5 vs. ∼0.2 when compared with CGI-BP overall improvement score).

CONCLUSIONS

Clinically meaningful definitions of response in acute treatment of a manic/mixed episode in pediatric subjects include a 50% change in YMRS and a composite measure of response. Parent-reported measures of symptom improvement appear reliable for assessing symptom change.

Agreement between chart diagnoses and standardized instrument ratings of youth psychopathology

Rating scales are useful for evidence-based assessment of youth psychopathology. However, it is not known whether these scales contribute information beyond that which clinicians gather without them. This study examined agreement between chart diagnoses and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) for 82 community mental health clinic clients. Agreement was low, suggesting that the CBCL was not redundant with clinicians' clinical impressions. These findings suggest that use of an instrument like the CBCL could potentially improve clinician diagnostic accuracy; future research should examine how best to utilize these scales in the diagnostic process and how to train clinicians in their use.

Portability of a screener for pediatric bipolar disorder to a diverse setting

Robust screening measures that perform well in different populations could help improve the accuracy of diagnosis of pediatric bipolar disorder. Changes in sampling could influence the performance of items and potentially influence total scores enough to alter the predictive utility of scores. Additionally, creating a brief version of a measure by extracting items from a longer scale might cause differential functioning due to context effects. The authors of current study examined both sampling and context effects of a brief measure of pediatric mania. Caregivers of 813 youths completed the parent-reported version of the General Behavior Inventory (PGBI) at an academic medical center sample enriched for mood disorders. Caregivers of 481 youths completed the PGBI at a community mental health center. Caregivers of 799 youths completed 10 items extracted from the PGBI at a community setting. Caregivers of 159 youths completed both versions of the PGBI and a semistructured diagnostic interview. Differential item functioning indicated that across samples some items functioned differently; however, total observed scores were similar across all levels of mania. Receiver operating characteristic analysis indicated that the 10 extracted items discriminated bipolar disorder from nonbipolar behavior as well as when the items were embedded within the full measure. Findings suggest that the extracted items perform similarly to the embedded items in the community setting. Measurement properties appear sufficiently robust across settings to support clinical applications.

Screening for pediatric bipolar disorder in primary care

A child or adolescent with pediatric bipolar disorder (PBD) is at higher risk for suicide, violence, and impaired psychosocial functioning. The prevalence of diagnosed PBD has increased 40-fold in less than 2 decades, leading some to believe that PBD is inaccurately diagnosed. Complicating this issue, disagreements exist among clinicians as to the utility of current screening methods. The assessment picture is further muddied by the high rate of comorbid psychiatric conditions. A literature review was performed to describe the present understanding of PBD and identify current practices of screening for the disorder. Although screening tools are available, the literature suggests they lack validity. Awareness, a thorough interview, and expedient referral may assist clinicians in making a correct diagnosis. Accurate assessment will help ease the psychological and economic burden of PBD.