Child Mania Rating Scale-Parent Version: a valid measure of symptom change due to pharmacotherapy.
BACKGROUND
The development of valid parent-report measures of symptom change in pediatric bipolar disorder (PBD) is imperative to evaluate the effectiveness of different treatment approaches; yet, few studies have tested the sensitivity of symptom measures. The current study evaluated the sensitivity of the Child Mania Rating Scale (CMRS-P) to detect symptom change over time in a treatment study for PBD.


METHODS
Data on symptom change were drawn from a prospective six-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized outpatient medication treatment trial of risperidone versus divalproex. The sample included 66 children with Bipolar type I disorder. Measures were administered every week for six weeks of treatment.


RESULTS
The CMRS-P demonstrated statistically (p ≤ .05) and clinically significant change in symptom report from pre to post-test. Growth curve modeling indicated that the CMRS-P demonstrated overall similarity to the YMRS in the magnitude and trajectory of change over time. Finally, results indicate that the CMRS-P is able to detect response rates with moderate levels of agreement with other measures.


CONCLUSIONS
Limitations of this study include a relatively small sample size and uncertain generalizability beyond treatment trials.


CONCLUSIONS
The CMRS-P is short, easy to administer, and represents parent's report of symptoms, all strengths which make it a compelling treatment outcome tool. This preliminary evidence of its validity as a treatment outcome measure makes it applicable in other research settings and suggests its potential use in clinical settings.
West
Amy E
AE
University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60608, United States. awest@psych.uic.edu
Celio
Christine I
CI
Henry
David B
DB
Pavuluri
Mani N
MN
D000293:Adolescent; D018692:Antimanic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D018967:Risperidone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use
D018692:Antimanic Agents; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D014635:Valproic Acid; D018967:Risperidone