Diagnostic efficiency of symptoms in the diagnosis of DSM-IV: generalized anxiety disorder in youth.
BACKGROUND
Evaluated five probability indices, including odds ratios, to determine relative contribution of Uncontrollable Excessive Worry (DSM-IV criterion A and criterion B) and Physiological Symptoms associated with uncontrollable excessive worry (DSM-IV criterion C) for diagnosing DSM-IV generalized anxiety disorder in youth.


METHODS
One hundred eleven youths (6 to 17 years old) and their parents who presented to a childhood anxiety disorders specialty clinic were administered a semi-structured diagnostic interview schedule. Separate evaluations were conducted for children and adolescents.


RESULTS
Results showed that symptoms comprising DSM-IV's generalized anxiety disorder diagnosis vary relative to one another in the degree to which they contribute to the diagnosis, with certain symptoms having relatively higher diagnostic value than other symptoms. The relative value of symptoms also appeared to vary with children's and adolescents' reports, and parents' reports about their children and adolescents.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite variations in symptoms' values, with only a few exceptions, almost all symptoms were still quite useful for diagnosis, whether reported by children, adolescents, or their parents.
Pina
Armando A
AA
Florida International University, Miami 33199, USA.
Silverman
Wendy K
WK
Alfano
Candice A
CA
Saavedra
Lissette M
LM
D000293:Adolescent; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002648:Child; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D015203:Reproducibility of Results