Preventive intervention for anxious preschoolers and their parents: strengthening early emotional development.

The high prevalence and early onset of anxiety disorders have inspired innovative prevention efforts targeting young at-risk children. With parent-child prevention models showing success for older children and adolescents, the goal of this study was to evaluate a parent-child indicated preventive intervention for preschoolers with mild to moderate anxiety symptoms. Sixteen children (ages 3-5) and at least one of their parents participated in Strengthening Early Emotional Development (SEED), a new 10-week intervention with concurrent groups for parents and children.

Mental health problems in children and caregivers in the emergency department setting.

Introduction: Although mental health problems are increasing in the primary care sector, the prevalence of mental health problems in families presenting for nonpsychiatric complaints in the emergency department (ED) setting is generally unknown. As such, we set out to assess the frequency of mental health concerns and associated risk factors in children presenting for care in a pediatric ED.

Methods: A total of 411 mother-child dyads were randomly selected during a 2-year period from the less acute area of a large pediatric ED.

The test-retest reliability and screening efficiency of DISC Predictive Scales-version 4.32 (DPS-4.32) with Chinese children/youths.

Introduction: The DISC Predictive Scales-4.32 (DPS-4.32) were short-forms of the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children-IV (DISC-IV).

Test-retest reliability of the Chinese version of the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children-Version 4 (DISC-IV).

Background: Despite the huge youth population, there is a lack of psychiatric diagnostic instruments with reported psychometric properties in Chinese. This study reports the development of the Chinese version of DISC-IV and examines its test-retest reliability.

Method: Seventy-eight parents and 79 youths (mean age 13.

Psychopathology among New York city public school children 6 months after September 11.

Context: Children exposed to a traumatic event may be at higher risk for developing mental disorders. The prevalence of child psychopathology, however, has not been assessed in a population-based sample exposed to different levels of mass trauma or across a range of disorders.

Objective: To determine prevalence and correlates of probable mental disorders among New York City, NY, public school students 6 months following the September 11, 2001, World Trade Center attack.

Screening for emergent risk and service needs among incarcerated youth: comparing MAYSI-2 and Voice DISC-IV.

Objective: To examine associations between the Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument-Second Version (MAYSI-2) and Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children-Present State Voice Version (DISC-IV) and the extent to which they overlap in identifying youths with mental health concerns.

Method: Among 325 New Jersey and South Carolina correctional youths, associations were examined using receiver operating characteristic analyses and logistic regression (binomial and multinomial).

Results: MAYSI-2 subscales generally mapped best onto homotypic DISC-IV disorders; however, many subscales mapped almost as well onto heterotypic disorders.

The voice DISC-IV with incarcerated male youths: prevalence of disorder.

Objectives: (1) To accurately assess rate of psychiatric disorder in incarcerated juveniles, and (2) to examine the feasibility of using a self-administered, comprehensive structured psychiatric assessment with those youths.

Method: In 1999-2000, 292 recently admitted males in secure placement with New Jersey and Illinois juvenile justice authorities provided self-assessments by means of the Voice Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children-IV, a comprehensive, computerized diagnostic instrument that presents questions via headphones.

Results: Assessments were well tolerated by youths, staff, and parents; 92% of approached youths agreed.