Study I: development and criterion validity of the Children's Interview for Psychiatric Syndromes (ChIPS).

Abstract

To test the psychometric properties of the Children's Interview for Psychiatric Syndromes (ChIPS), a second-generation structured diagnostic interview designed to improve on the methodology provided by first-generation structured interviews, which have increased diagnostic reliability over unstructured clinical interviews. Forty-two children hospitalized on a children's inpatient unit were administered the ChIPS and the Diagnostic Interview for Children and Adolescents (DICA). The level of agreement regarding syndrome presence or absence of 15 diagnoses according to the two instruments was assessed using a standard kappa coefficient or a rare kappa coefficient and percentage agreement. Agreement between the two instruments was significant (p < 0.05) for 13 of 14 diagnoses for which either kappa coefficient could be calculated. Percentage agreement was 98% and 100% for the remaining two diagnoses. ChIPS and DICA results also were compared with a psychiatrist's diagnoses. Sensitivity was 80% for ChIPS and 61% for DICA. Specificity was 78% for ChIPS and 87% for DICA. ChIPS is proposed as a valid measure of child psychopathology that offers advantages over existing interviews.