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.
Manassis
Katharina
K
Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X8, Canada. katharina.manassis@sickkids.ca
Mendlowitz
Sandra
S
Kreindler
David
D
Lumsden
Charles
C
Sharpe
Jason
J
Simon
Mark D
MD
Woolridge
Nicholas
N
Monga
Suneeta
S
Adler-Nevo
Gili
G
D000339:Affect; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires