PW01-59 - Effects of an internet based assessment of child and adolescent psychopathology (DAWBA) on clinical decision making

Abstract

ObjectivesThe main objective was to examine agreement between the internet based Development and Well-Being Assessment (DAWBA) generated diagnoses and clinical diagnoses. Second, we aimed to explore how disclosure of the DAWBA-diagnosis before clinical decision making influenced the clinicians diagnosis. Third, whether there were differences of influence for different categories of disorders. Last, we examined how the use of DAWBA information affected identification of co-morbidities.Methods315 patients from outpatient clinics were randomised into two groups. In 177 cases the clinician was informed about DAWBA diagnosis, in 155 cases the clinican was blind to DAWBA information. DAWBA is an internet based package of questionnaires and rating techniques designed to generate psychiatric ICD10 or DSM IV diagnoses for 5- 17 year old children and adolescents. Information from parents, teachers and self-reports are brought together by a computer programme that predicts likely diagnoses. An expert rater decides on the diagnosis by synopsis of these different inputs.ResultsDAWBA diagnoses and clinical diagnosis without information from DAWBA showed acceptable agreement with Cohens kappa 0,26 for emotional disorders, kappa of 0,29 for hyperactive disorders and kappa of 0.31 for disruptive disorders.There was a significant effect on clinical diagnoses for emotional disorders for disclosure of DAWBA (kappa of 0.26 without DAWBA information versus kappa of 0,52 with information, Fishers z of p< 0,05)There was no significant effect of information about DAWBA-diagnosis considering comorbidities.ConclusionsDAWBA showed the most pronounced effect on clinical diagnoses for emotional disorders in children and adolescents.