Use of Standardized Symptom and Intelligence Tests at Socialpediatric Centres (SPZ) in Germany

Abstract

In German Socialpediatric Centres (Sozialpädiatrische Zentren, SPZ) children and adolescents with mental and physical disorders and disabilities are diagnosed and receive outpatient treatment. This cross-sectional study explores to what extent standardized symptom questionnaires and intelligence tests are applied in German Socialpediatric Centres. In Germany there exist 152 SPZ. One third participated in this questionnaire study (N = 50). Symptom questionnaires are applied by all participating SPZ (100 %), intelligence tests are used by 98 %. Among the most frequent used tests are intelligence tests ("Wechsler Intelligence Scale For Children (WISC)"; "Snijders-Oomen Nonverbale Intelligenztest" (SON-R5,5-17)) and tests assessing mental health symptoms ("Diagnostik-System für psychische Störungen (DISYPS-2)"; "Child Behavior Checklist-Elternfragebogen" (CBCL 4/18)). Specific mental disorders are assessed with a variety of different questionnaires. In our questionnaire 14 standardized symptom and intelligence tests were listed. The participating SPZ listed 110 additional symptom questionnaires that are used as well. Standardized symptom diagnostic at SPZ seems to focus on autism spectrum disorders, anxiety disorders, and depression. Implications for research and clinical practice are derived.