Diagnostic Assessment Instruments

Diagnostic Assessment Instruments

• Identify a scholarly, peer-reviewed article that addresses the use of the instrument.
• Discuss if the instrument is appropriate for diagnosing the condition it is designed to assess or if the developers of the instrument reported that the instrument is only part of a comprehensive assessment for the disorder.
• Describe whether the instrument can be used to measure patient response to therapy/treatment.
• Discuss the psychometrics/scoring of the instrument, including reliability and validity.
• Discuss any limitations associated with the use of the instrument.

Instruments/Tools for diagnosis of (one instrument/tool for each diagnosis):

• Anxiety in children and adolescents
• OCD in children and adolescents

Use the Journal Template Assessment Tool Template to complete the journal assignment. Your information can be in bulleted format or just a couple sentences for each criterion listed. However, you must use APA citations and references at the end.

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APA

Answer

Instrument for Anxiety in Children and Adolescents

Instrument: Revised Children’s Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS)

1. Scholarly Article:
   • Muris, P., Meesters, C., & Fijen, P. (2003). The Revised Children’s Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS): Development and psychometric evaluation. Psychological Assessment, 15(2), 213-223. https://doi.org/10.1037/1040-3590.15.2.213
2. Appropriateness for Diagnosing:
   • The RCADS is appropriate for diagnosing anxiety disorders in children and adolescents. However, the developers indicated that it should be part of a comprehensive assessment including clinical interviews and other diagnostic tools. Diagnostic Assessment Instruments
3. Measurement of Patient Response to Therapy:
   • Yes, the RCADS can be used to measure patient responses to therapy/treatment by assessing changes in anxiety symptoms over time.
4. Psychometrics/Scoring:
   • Reliability: High internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha > 0.90).
   • Validity: Good construct validity with correlations to other anxiety measures, confirming it assesses anxiety disorders effectively.
5. Limitations:
   • The RCADS is based on self-reporting, which can introduce bias. Additionally, it may not capture the full spectrum of anxiety disorders, particularly in children with comorbid conditions.

Instrument for OCD in Children and Adolescents

Instrument: Children’s Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (CY-BOCS)

1. Scholarly Article:
   • Scahill, L., & Riddle, M. A. (2005). The Children’s Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale: A study of reliability and validity. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 44(1), 44-50. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.chi.0000142443.45183.3b
2. Appropriateness for Diagnosing:
   • The CY-BOCS is appropriate for diagnosing OCD in children and adolescents and is considered the gold standard in the assessment of OCD symptoms. The developers note that it is best used alongside clinical evaluation for comprehensive assessment. Diagnostic Assessment Instruments
3. Measurement of Patient Response to Therapy:
   • Yes, the CY-BOCS is designed to measure treatment response by tracking changes in symptom severity before and after therapy.
4. Psychometrics/Scoring:
   • Reliability: Strong internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha > 0.85) and inter-rater reliability (kappa = 0.80).
   • Validity: Demonstrates good convergent validity with other OCD measures and has been shown to effectively differentiate OCD from other anxiety disorders.
5. Limitations:
   • The CY-BOCS requires trained professionals for administration, which can limit accessibility. Additionally, self-reports may not always accurately reflect the child’s experience, especially in younger populations.

References

• Muris, P., Meesters, C., & Fijen, P. (2003). The Revised Children’s Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS): Development and psychometric evaluation. Psychological Assessment, 15(2), 213-223. https://doi.org/10.1037/1040-3590.15.2.213
• Scahill, L., & Riddle, M. A. (2005). The Children’s Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale: A study of reliability and validity. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 44(1), 44-50. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.chi.0000142443.45183.3b