Schedule for affective disorders and schizophrenia for school-age children (K-SADS-PL) for the assessment of preschool children--a preliminary psychometric study.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the psychometrics of the schedule for affective disorders and schizophrenia for school-age children present and lifetime version (K-SADS-PL) in diagnosing DSM-IV psychiatric disorders and subsyndromal symptomatology in preschool children.


METHODS
Parents were interviewed about their children using the K-SADS-PL, and they completed the early childhood inventory-4 (ECI-4) and child behavior checklist for ages 1(1/2)-5 years (CBCL). Discriminant, divergent, and convergent validity of the K-SADS-PL were evaluated in 204 offspring ages 2-5 years old of parents from an ongoing study. Inter-rater reliability as well as predictive validity of intake diagnoses at second assessment approximately two years after intake were evaluated. Fourteen children were also assessed by the preschool age psychiatric assessment (PAPA).


RESULTS
Children who were diagnosed with oppositional defiant disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety, mood, or elimination disorders had significantly higher scores on the ECI-4 than children without these disorders. Significant correlations were found for all convergent CBCL scales. Divergent validity was acceptable for emotional disorders. Inter-rater kappa coefficients for all diagnoses were good. Above noted results were similar for children with at least one positive K-SADS-PL key screen symptom. A significantly higher percentage of children with an intake diagnosis had a diagnosis approximately two years after intake compared to those without an intake disorder. Overall, there was consistency between the PAPA and the K-SADS-PL.


CONCLUSIONS
Pending further testing, the K-SADS-PL may prove useful for the assessment of psychopathology in preschoolers.
Birmaher
Boris
B
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, 3811 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. birtmaherb@upmc.edu
Ehmann
Mary
M
Axelson
David A
DA
Goldstein
Benjamin I
BI
Monk
Kelly
K
Kalas
Catherine
C
Kupfer
David
D
Gill
Mary Kay
MK
Leibenluft
Ellen
E
Bridge
Jeffrey
J
Guyer
Amanda
A
Egger
Helen L
HL
Brent
David A
DA
D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D015588:Observer Variation; D010552:Personality Assessment; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012561:Schizophrenia, Childhood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology