Presentation Information
[SY-115-01]Comparison and stability of measures of inattentive symptoms in childhood
*Josephine Power1 (1. Monash Health (Australia))
Keywords:
Inattentive symptoms,Diagnostic measurement,Child psychiatry
Accurate measurement of inattentive symptoms in children is essential to identify developmentally vulnerable individuals and plan intervention. However, discrepancies often arise between self-report tools and structured diagnostic interviews, complicated by interpretation of developmental norms. Measurement tools differ in mode of administration and content, their intended use for screening or diagnosis, and may vary in usefulness according to child developmental stage and age.
This study explores the alignment and predictive value of self-reported inattentive symptoms using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) in comparison with clinician-administered diagnostic assessments—the Preschool Age Psychiatric Assessment (PAPA) and the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children (DISC) across two timepoints in childhood (4 and 8 years of age).
Participants included a community-based cohort of children assessed at early childhood and again at school age. At each wave, caregivers completed the CBCL as a measure of inattentive behaviors, while trained interviewers administered the PAPA and the DISC to establish the presence of inattentive symptoms meeting the threshold for DSM 5. We examined correlations and agreement between measures, assessed longitudinal stability of inattentive symptoms, and evaluated the predictive validity of early self-reports for later diagnostic outcomes.
Preliminary findings of this analysis will be presented. The results underscore the importance of integrating both caregiver-reported and diagnostic data in the evaluation of attention-related symptoms. These findings contribute to the ongoing discussion about the utility of brief screening tools versus structured diagnostic approaches, with a focus on early
childhood.
This study explores the alignment and predictive value of self-reported inattentive symptoms using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) in comparison with clinician-administered diagnostic assessments—the Preschool Age Psychiatric Assessment (PAPA) and the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children (DISC) across two timepoints in childhood (4 and 8 years of age).
Participants included a community-based cohort of children assessed at early childhood and again at school age. At each wave, caregivers completed the CBCL as a measure of inattentive behaviors, while trained interviewers administered the PAPA and the DISC to establish the presence of inattentive symptoms meeting the threshold for DSM 5. We examined correlations and agreement between measures, assessed longitudinal stability of inattentive symptoms, and evaluated the predictive validity of early self-reports for later diagnostic outcomes.
Preliminary findings of this analysis will be presented. The results underscore the importance of integrating both caregiver-reported and diagnostic data in the evaluation of attention-related symptoms. These findings contribute to the ongoing discussion about the utility of brief screening tools versus structured diagnostic approaches, with a focus on early
childhood.