Mood assessment via animated characters: a novel instrument to evaluate feelings in young children with anxiety disorders.
We evaluated a novel, computerized feelings assessment instrument (MAAC) in 54 children with anxiety disorders and 35 nonanxious children ages 5 to 11. They rated their feelings relative to 16 feeling animations. Ratings of feelings, order of feeling selection, and correlations with standardized anxiety measures were examined. Positive emotions were rated more highly and visited earlier by nonanxious children. Children with anxiety disorders explored fewer emotions. MAAC ratings on several positive emotions showed inverse correlations with state anxiety. Although needing further evaluation, MAAC may facilitate feelings assessment in young children and may distinguish children with anxiety disorders from nonanxious children.
Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X8, Canada. katharina.manassis@sickkids.ca
Katharina
K
Manassis
Sandra
S
Mendlowitz
David
D
Kreindler
Charles
C
Lumsden
Jason
J
Sharpe
Mark D
MD
Simon
Nicholas
N
Woolridge
Suneeta
S
Monga
Gili
G
Adler-Nevo
D000339:Affect; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires