A DSM-IV-referenced, adolescent self-report rating scale.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the reliability and validity of the Youth's Inventory-4 (YI-4), a DSM-IV-referenced self-report rating scale.


METHODS
Youths (N = 239) aged between 11 and 18 years who were clinically evaluated between 1996 and 1999 completed the YI-4, and 79% completed at least one additional self-report. Parents and teachers completed a companion measure. A second sample (N = 47) was retested 2 weeks after an initial evaluation.


RESULTS
The YI-4 demonstrated satisfactory internal consistency (alpha values = .66-.87) and test-retest reliability (r values = 0.54-0.92), convergent and to lesser extent divergent validity with other self-report measures, and discriminant validity by differentiating children with and without diagnosed attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, conduct disorder, substance use, generalized anxiety disorder, or major depressive disorder. Youth-parent (r values = 0.05-0.50) and youth-teacher (r values < 0.18) agreement was generally modest.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings provide preliminary support for the clinical utility of the YI-4 for symptom assessment in referred youths.
Gadow
Kenneth D
KD
Department of Psychiatry, State University of New York, Stony Brook 11794-8790, USA. kgadow@mail.psychiatry.sunysb.edu
Sprafkin
Joyce
J
Carlson
Gabrielle A
GA
Schneider
Jayne
J
Nolan
Edith E
EE
Mattison
Richard E
RE
Rundberg-Rivera
Victoria
V
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D010552:Personality Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results