Screen For Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders Scores Research Articles

Are children with mitral valve prolapse more anxious?

Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is a common valvular disease in children. Symptoms in children with MVP are not explained by the severity of mitral regurgitation alone. Hence, we sought to correlate symptom status with the incidence of anxiety disorder in this population. Groups were as follows: (a) MVP; n = 115; mean age: 13.5 ± 3.06 years and (b) control; n = 53; mean age: 15.1 ± 13.2. The Screen for Child Anxiety-Related Emotional Disorders (SCAREDs) scale was filled by all participants. The SCARED scores of 25 and above determined a warning for anxiety disorders. The mean SCARED scale values of MVP and control groups were 29.2 ± 13.08 and 24.9 ± 14.17, respectively (P = 0.065). Although the SCARED scale score was higher among the MVP patients, no significant difference was found between the groups in terms of the mean SCARED score, or the number of participants with a score of 25 or more. While girls with MVP had higher anxiety scores compared to boys with the disorder, there was no difference with respect to SCARED scores in children with MVP and the general population when analyzed separately by gender. Moreover, the SCARED scale score was significantly higher in symptomatic MVP patients than in asymptomatic cases. Children with MVP did not have higher anxiety scores compared to those without the syndrome. However, MVP patients with higher anxiety scores may benefit from a psychiatric assessment since higher scores correlate with symptoms.

A Comprehensive Assessment of Long-Term Complications in Patients with Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis

Introduction: Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), and SJS/TEN overlap syndrome are rare severe hypersensitivity reactions that lead to epithelial sloughing. Studies investigating the chronic multisystem effects of these syndromes and assessing patients in terms of quality of life (QOL), depression, and anxiety in the pediatric population are limited. In this study, we aimed to investigate the long-term effects of these diseases from a multisystem perspective. Method: Sixteen pediatric patients diagnosed with SJS, TEN, and SJS/TEN overlap syndrome were evaluated between September 2020 and March 2021. Physical and eye examinations were performed. To evaluate QOL and psychological status, Children’s Dermatology Life Quality Index (CDLQI), Screen for Child Anxiety-Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED), and Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI) were conducted. The patients’ general characteristics, symptoms, and examination findings at their first admission were retrospectively obtained from the hospital’s electronic records. Results: Nineteen percent of the patients were female (n = 3). There were 7 patients (44%) with the diagnosis of SJS, 5 patients (31%) with TEN, and 4 patients (25%) with SJS/TEN overlap. The median follow-up time of the subjects was 6.5 years. The most common sequelae in the chronic period were skin changes (n = 13, 81%). Hyperpigmentation was the most common skin change (n = 9, 56%). In the last evaluation, 9 cases had eye involvement. In two cases, eye examination was normal in the acute phase, while ocular involvement was present in the chronic period. In 4 (50%) patients, there was height and/or weight percentile loss. Three patients’ SCARED scores and 2 patients’ CDI scores were high. According to the CDLQI survey, SJS, TEN, or SJS/TEN overlap syndrome had a small to moderate effect on the QOL in the 43% (n = 6) of the patients. The ANA values of 3 patients (60%) were positive at the follow-up and negative at the first admission. Conclusion: SJS, TEN, and SJS/TEN overlap syndrome may cause sequelae even after a long time of the onset of the disease. Patients’ QOL and psychological status can be affected negatively. Ocular symptoms may develop in the follow-up, even without involvement in the acute period. Patients with SJS, TEN, and SJS/TEN overlap syndrome should be followed up in the chronic period and approached multidisciplinary.

COVID-19, DEHB'li çocuk ve ergenlerin ruh sağlığı ve yaşam kalitesini etkiledi mi?

Aim: COVID-19 pandemic has had negative effects on the lives of many children and adolescents with psychiatric disorders. This research aims to investigate the effects on the mental status and quality of life of children with ADHD during the COVID-19 pandemic. Material and Method: This study was conducted at the child and adolescent psychiatric outpatient clinic of a university hospital, between April and May 2020. The research group consisted of 113 children and adolescents with ADHD, and the control group consisted of 45 children and adolescents. The depression and anxiety symptoms of the children were assessed using the Child Depression Inventory (CDI) and the Screen for Child Anxiety-Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED), respectively. Child-reported and parent-reported Pediatric Quality of Life Inventories (PedsQL) were used to evaluate the health-related quality of life of the children. Result: Depressive symptoms and anxiety levels were found to be statistically higher in the ADHD group. According to PedsQL-P scale, psychosocial and scale total scores were statistically significantly lower. According to the regression analysis, the SCARED scores predicted negative physical, psychosocial, and total scores of the PEDsQL-C scale. The CDI scores, however, predicted negative physical, psychosocial, and total scores of the PEDsQL-P scale. Conclusion: This study revealed that in the COVID-19 pandemic, children with ADHD are more affected in terms of depression, anxiety and quality of life than children without any psychiatric disease. The study findings suggest that further studies are needed to better understand the psychological conditions and difficulties that children with ADHD experience during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Early exposure to flame retardants is prospectively associated with anxiety symptoms in adolescents: A prospective birth cohort study.

Anxiety disorders emerge during childhood and adolescence and are frequently preceded by subsyndromal anxiety symptoms. Environmental toxicants, including gestational polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) exposure, are associated with neuropsychiatric sequelae; however, the role of PBDEs as risk factors for anxiety in adolescence is unclear. Using data from the Health Outcomes and Measures of the Environment (HOME) Study, a prospective pregnancy and birth cohort enrolled from 2003 to 2006, we investigated the relationship between gestational serum PBDE concentrations and anxiety symptoms in adolescents (N = 236). We measured five PBDE congeners (PBDE-28, -47, -99, -100, and -153) at 16 ± 3 weeks of gestation and calculated their sum (∑PBDE). We assessed self-reported anxiety symptoms using the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED) and depressive symptoms using the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI-2) at age 12 years. We estimated the associations of maternal PBDE concentrations with child anxiety and depressive symptoms using multivariable linear regression and modified Poisson regression. Covariates included child sex, maternal race, maternal age at delivery, maternal marital status, maternal education, and household income at the 12-year study visit as well as maternal depressive and anxiety symptoms. Sensitivity analyses were performed to control for maternal lead and mercury at delivery. After adjusting for predetermined covariates, each doubling in maternal PBDE concentrations was associated with increased SCARED scores (e.g., for ∑PBDE, SCARED total score, β = 1.6 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.3-2.9, p = .019) and a nonsignificant increase in depressive symptoms (e.g., for CDI total score, β = .8, 95%CI: -0.2-1.8, p = .11). Gestational serum PBDE concentrations just before mid-pregnancy and during a period of active cortical and limbic neurogenesis, synaptogenesis and myelogenesis may be a risk factor for developing anxiety symptoms in early adolescence.

Does Anxiety Symptomatology Affect Bullying Behavior in Children and Adolescents with ADHD?

BackgroundAnxiety disorders are common comorbidities in children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who are also at a high risk of bullying behavior. However, little is known about the roles of anxiety symptomatology in the relationship between ADHD and bullying behavior.ObjectiveThis cross-sectional, clinic-based study aims to investigate the associations between anxiety symptomatology and bullying involvement in youth with ADHD.MethodOne hundred and eighty children and adolescents with ADHD aged 10–18 years participated in the study. The Screen for Child Anxiety-Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED) was self-rated, and the participants were interviewed with the Revised Olweus Bully/Victim Questionnaire to categorize bullying involvement. Data were analyzed through percentage, nonparametric statistics, chi-squared statistics, and logistic regression analysis.ResultsSixty-nine percent of youth with ADHD reported involvement in bullying, of which 33.3%, 8.9%, and 27.2% were classified as victims, bullies, and bully-victims, respectively. The means and 95% confidence intervals of the total SCARED scores showed a significant difference among bullying behavior groups. The highest SCARED scores could be noticed in the victim and bully-victim groups, with the lowest scores observed in the bully group. Youth with ADHD who had comorbid anxiety were 3.51 times more likely to be bullied than those who did not have anxiety.ConclusionsA differential effect of anxiety symptomatology on bullying behavior in youth with ADHD was evident. These results highlight the utility of including anxiety in the conceptualization of bullying problems in youth with ADHD to plan successful anti-bullying interventions.

Associations between depressive and anxiety levels and allergic rhinitis in children: a cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT Objective: To investigate the associations between the depressive and anxiety levels and allergic rhinitis (AR) in children. Methods: Children less than 15 years old admitted to our hospital from April 2017 to December 2019 were enrolled in this study, including 692 AR children in the patient group and 713 normal individuals in the control group. The Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED) was used to detect their depressive and anxiety levels, and the Middle Childhood Temperament Questionnaire (MCTQ) was used to evaluate their dominant affective temperaments. The comparisons of scale scores between these groups, and the correlation analysis between SCARED scores and MCTQ scores were conducted. Results: The mean SCARED scores of the patient group were significantly higher than the control group (P < 0.05). The patient group also had more AR children with the depressive temperament and anxious temperament than the control group (P<0.01). Strong correlations were found between the SCARED scores and MCTQ scores. Conclusion: The AR children had obvious depressive and anxious trends than non-allergic children. Screening the temperaments and detecting the depression and anxiety symptoms were imperative for AR children, especially for those with depression and anxious moods.

Risk factors associated with developing anxiety in Inuit adolescents from Nunavik

This study aimed to examine the relation between anxiety among the at-risk population of Inuit adolescents and diverse developmental risk factors including exposure to environmental chemicals, a subject of concern in Nunavik. Anxiety was assessed in 89 Inuit participants (mean age = 18.4 years; range = 16.2–21.9) with the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Potential risk factors for anxiety were documented at birth, 11 years of age and 18 years of age, including blood levels of chemicals (mercury, lead, PCBs) and nutrients, as well as age, sex, estimated IQ, drug and alcohol use, bullying, exposure to domestic violence, food insecurity, crowding and socio-economic status. Results showed that participants scored high on both measures of anxiety, particularly the SCARED, for which the mean score was above the clinical threshold. Multiple regression results show that significant risk predictors obtained from the SCARED scores were female sex (β = 0.32), higher current blood mercury concentration (β = 0.26), food insecurity (β = 0.26) and bullying experiences in the last year (β = 0.21). The significant predictors for the STAI trait anxiety were food insecurity (β = 0.25) and lower estimated IQ (β = −0.31), whereas food insecurity (β = 0.21), lower blood levels of vitamin E (β = −0.25) and higher cord blood mercury concentrations (β = 0.25) were found for STAI situational anxiety. Further regression analyses suggested that the adolescent-related variables were the most important risk factors. Our findings show that Inuit adolescents are at risk for anxiety via multiple contributing factors, particularly current exposure to mercury, food insecurity and female sex.

Psychometric properties and factor structure of the Korean version of the screen for child anxiety related emotional disorders (SCARED)

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the Korean version of Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED) on a sample of Korean youths and to examine the cross-cultural differences in adolescents’ anxiety.MethodsOur study included 147 adolescents (ages 12–17, 92 girls), 93 with major depressive disorder and 54 as controls. Participants were evaluated using the Kiddie-Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children-Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL), SCARED, Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), Disruptive Behavioral Disorder Scale (DBD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Rating Scale (ADHD-RS). Pearson’s r and Cronbach’s α values of the SCARED were calculated, and exploratory factor analysis was conducted.ResultsThe Korean SCARED scores were correlated with the total anxiety scores of K-SADS-PL (r = 0.74) and the CBCL anxious/depressed subscale scores (r = 0.35). Results showed a five-factor structure with good internal consistency, in which some items were loaded on different factors compared to previous studies.ConclusionsThe Korean SCARED demonstrated promising psychometric properties, and could be a valid scale for screening anxiety symptoms in primary care. The fact that different items comprised the factors may reflect the cultural difference between United States and Korea in experiencing anxiety.

Risk Factors for Developing Anxiety in Inuit Adolescents from Nunavik

Background: Anxiety among Inuit adolescents in the Arctic has not previously been studied empirically, although the evidence of major anxiety-related problems in this community. In addition to describe anxiety markers, we examined their relationships with diverse developmental risk factors including exposure to environmental chemicals, a specific subject of concerns in Nunavik.Methods: Anxiety was assessed in 89 Inuit participants (Mean age&amp;#61;18.4y; Range&amp;#61;16.2 to 21.9y) enrolled in the longitudinal Nunavik Child Development Study. They completed the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) assessing situational (State) and general (Trait) anxiety levels. Potential risk factors of anxiety documented through follow-ups were examined at birth, at 11 years of age and at the time of assessment, including blood levels of chemicals (Hg, lead, PCBs), nutrients and vitamins, as well as age, sex, IQ, drug/alcohol, bullying, family violence, food insecurity, crowding and SES.Results: Anxiety scores on both questionnaires were high, particularly for the SCARED, which mean score was above the clinical threshold. Multiple regression results show that significant risk predictors of the SCARED scores were exposure to Hg during childhood (&amp;#946;&amp;#61;.25, p&amp;#61;.02) and adolescence (&amp;#946;&amp;#61;.27, p&amp;#61;.004), food insecurity (&amp;#946;&amp;#61;.27, p&amp;#61;.004), bullying history (&amp;#946;&amp;#61;.21, p&amp;#61;.03) and female status (&amp;#946;&amp;#61;.26, p&amp;#61;.01). For the STAI, the only significant predictor was IQ (&amp;#946;&amp;#61; -.27, p&amp;#61;.02) on Trait, whereas concentration of cord blood Hg (&amp;#946;&amp;#61;.25, p&amp;#61;.03), home crowding during childhood (&amp;#946;&amp;#61;.34, p&amp;#61;.002), adolescence (&amp;#946;&amp;#61;.23, p&amp;#61;.02), food insecurity (&amp;#946;&amp;#61;.22, p&amp;#61;.03), vitamin E (&amp;#946;&amp;#61;-.25, p&amp;#61;.02) and selenium (&amp;#946;&amp;#61;.21, p&amp;#61;.04) were found to be the significant predictors of anxiety on State.Conclusions: Our findings show that Inuit adolescents are at risk for anxiety via multiple contributing factors, particularly chronic exposure to Hg, food insecurity and female status.

Family functioning and quality of life among children with anxiety disorder and healthy controls. A cross-sectional study.

Studies have shown that children with anxiety disorders (ADs) present impaired family functioning and quality of life. We aimed to evaluate family functioning and quality of life among children with AD and healthy controls. Cross-sectional study (survey) at two centers in Turkey. The study group comprised 42 children diagnosed with AD and 55 controls. The Screen for Child Anxiety-Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED) questionnaire was filled out by their parents to measure the severity of anxiety symptoms. Family functioning among the children was assessed using the Family Assessment Device (FAD) and Parental Attitude Research Instrument (PARI). The children's quality of life was assessed through the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL). The children's average age was 10.00 ± 0.21 years in the AD group and 9.98 ± 1.53 years among the controls. There were higher scores on all FAD subscales in the AD group (2.15 ± 0.52; 2.29 ± 0.44; 2.44 ± 0.55; 2.10 ± 0.61; 2.56 ± 0.40; 2.32 ± 0.33; and 2.29 ± 0.47). On PARI subscales, there were significant differences favoring the AD group (p < 0.05), except for democratic attitude. All PedsQL subscales differed significantly between the groups, favoring the AD group. A statistically significant relationship was found between all PedsQL subscales and SCARED scores in the AD group. We found that both family functioning and quality of life among children with AD were negatively affected. However, further studies with larger sample sizes are required to reach stronger conclusions.

Degree of anxiety in food allergic children in a tertiary care center

BackgroundThe link between internalizing psychiatric disorders, such as anxiety and depression, and allergic diseases has attracted a high level of interest from psychiatrists and immunologists. Recent studies have found increased anxiety in children with asthma, but findings in children with food allergy (FA) have been inconsistent. ObjectiveIt was hypothesized that children with FA would score significantly higher on a standardized anxiety screen than general pediatric (GP) patients but not as high as patients with diagnosed anxiety disorders. MethodsA total of 114 patients aged 8 to 16 years (37 with confirmed anxiety disorder from a pediatric psychiatry clinic, 40 with confirmed FA from a pediatric allergy clinic, and 43 well-care patients from a GP clinic) and their mothers completed the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED). ResultsChildren and mothers in the allergy group did not report increased levels of anxiety in children on total SCARED scores or subscales compared with children and mothers from the GP group. There was a trend toward increased panic disorder symptoms reported in children by mothers of children in the allergy group, but this finding did not reach statistical significance. ConclusionChildren with FA did not have increased anxiety; however, there was a trend for mothers of children with allergies to report more symptoms of panic disorder in their children. It remains important to screen families for anxiety-related symptoms and refer them to mental health services when indicated.

Evaluation of executive functions in children and adolescents with familial Mediterranean fever

ABSTRACTThe aim of the present study was to investigate neuropsychological test performance in children and adolescents with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF). A total of 88 children and adolescents aged 8 to 17 years were included, 52 with FMF and 36 healthy controls. After the participants were administered the Children Depression Inventory (CDI) and the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED), they completed the battery tests of the Central Nervous System Vital Signs (CNSVS), a neurocognitive test battery, via computer. The battery calculates seven domain scores (Memory, Psychomotor Speed, Processing Speed, Reaction Time, Complex Attention, Executive Function, and Cognitive Flexibility) and a summary score (Neurocognition Index [NCI]). A statistically significant difference between the FMF and control groups was found in six out of seven domains, where the scores of the participants with FMF were found to be significantly lower than those of the control participants (p < .05). Although the mean Reaction Time score of the participants with FMF was found to be lower than that of the control participants, the finding was not statistically significant (p > .05). The mean CDI and SCARED scores of the participants with FMF were found to be significantly higher than those of the control participants (p < .05). Low scores in the Processing Speed and Psychomotor Speed domains of the CNSVS were significantly correlated with higher SCARED scores (r = −.37, p = .01). Impaired cognitive functions should be taken into consideration in children and adolescents with FMF when assessing and managing this population.

Anxiety Measures Predict Health-Related Quality of Life in Children and Adolescents with Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome

To evaluate the relationship between anxiety and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in children and adolescents with cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS). Forty children aged 8-18 years diagnosed with CVS and 40 parents completed the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED) and the child and parent forms of the Pediatric Quality of Life Generic Core Scale, a measure of HRQoL. Eleven of the 40 children (27%) by self-report and 6 of 40 (15%) by parent-proxy report met the clinical cutoff for an anxiety disorder on the SCARED. Parent and child SCARED ratings were moderately correlated (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.68; P < .001). Child-rated HRQoL (mean ± SD, 74.3 ± 15.2) and parent-rated HRQoL (mean, 72.1 ± 14.6) were lower than healthy norms (P < .001). Disease severity (mean duration of CVS episodes, 3 ± 2.4 days), annual frequency of CVS episodes (mean, 8.2 ± 15.3), chronicity of CVS (mean, 5.8 ± 3.4 years), and delay in diagnosis (mean, 2.4 ± 1.9 years) were not associated with child-reported HRQoL; however, child SCARED scores accounted for approximately 50% of the variance in child-reported HRQoL (adjusted R(2) = 0.49; df = 1, 38; P < .001). Children and adolescents with CVS appear to be at increased risk for anxiety. Anxiety symptoms are a stronger predictor of HRQoL than disease characteristics in children and adolescents with CVS. Assessment and treatment of anxiety in children and adolescents with CVS may have a positive impact on HRQoL.

High impulsivity as a risk factor for the development of internalizing disorders in detained juvenile offenders

BackgroundWhilst impulsivity is most commonly linked to the development of internalizing disorders, high levels of impulsivity, anxiety, and depression have been found in detained juvenile offenders. We therefore sought to determine whether impulsivity is associated with the development of self-reported anxiety or depression in a sample of detained juvenile offenders. Methods323 male juvenile offenders and 86 typically developing controls, aged 15–17 were assessed. The Schedule for Affective Disorder and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children Present and Lifetime (SADS-PL) was used to assess psychiatric diagnoses, the Barratt Impulsivity Scale (BIS-11) was used to measure impulsivity, and the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED) and the Birleson Depression Self-Rating Scale (DSRS) were used to assess self-reported anxiety and depression respectively. ResultsCompared to controls, juvenile offenders had significantly higher scores on the BIS-11 total, as well as on the motor and nonplanning subscales (all p values <0.001), as well as higher DSRS (p<0.001) and SCARED (p<0.05) scores. Within the juvenile offender group, scores on the SCARED correlated positively with BIS-11 total, attention subscale, motor subscale, and total DSRS (all p values <0.01). DSRS scores correlated positively with BIS-11 total, attention subscale, nonplanning subscale, and total SCARED scores (all p values <0.01). Participants were then categorized low, middle or high impulsivity according to scores on the BIS-11. One-way ANOVAs demonstrated a significant difference between these tertiles on DSRS [F(2,320)=4.862, p<0.05] and SCARED total scores [F(2,320)=3.581, p<0.05]. Specifically, post-hoc analyses found that the high impulsivity tertile scored significant higher than the remaining tertiles on both DSRS (16.1±0.3 vs. 14.0±0.6, p<0.05) and SCARED (23.3±0.9 vs. 18.4±1.4, p<0.05) scores. Using multiple linear regression, BIS-11 attention scores, number of months served in custody, age, and BIS-11 nonplanning scores predicted higher levels of anxiety, whilst only BIS-11 attention and nonplanning scores predicted higher levels of depression. ConclusionsIn detained juvenile offenders, high impulsivity may be an important risk factor not only for the externalizing disorders, but also for anxiety and depression. Results of this study, therefore, suggest that specific facets of impulsivity may represent one mechanism underlying the emergence of anxiety and depression in this population.

Association between anxiety symptoms and problematic alcohol use in adolescents.

Anxiety disorders are highly prevalent, affecting approximately 10% of individuals throughout life; its onset can be detected since early childhood or adolescence. Studies in adults have shown that anxiety disorders are associated with alcohol abuse, but few studies have investigated the association between anxiety symptoms and problematic alcohol use in early ages. To evaluate if anxiety symptoms are associated with problematic alcohol use in young subjects. A total of 239 individuals aged 10-17 years were randomly selected from schools located in the catchment area of Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre. The Screen for Child Anxiety-Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED) was used to evaluate the presence of anxiety symptoms, and the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST), to evaluate alcohol use. One hundred twenty-seven individuals (53.1% ) reported having already used alcohol. Of these, 14 individuals showed problematic alcohol use (5.8% ). There was no association between lifetime use of alcohol and anxiety symptoms, but mean SCARED scores in individuals with problematic alcohol use was higher if compared to those without problematic use, even after adjustment for age and gender (29.9±8.5 vs. 23.7±11.8, p < 0.001). Despite the limitation of a cross-sectional design, our study suggests that anxiety symptoms are associated with problematic alcohol use early in life.

Sensitivity and Specificity of the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED): A Community-Based Study

The aim of this cross-sectional community-based study was to examine the sensitivity and specificity of the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED) to the diagnosis of anxiety disorders (AD). Participants were 119 students aged 9-18. Psychiatric diagnoses were assessed by a psychiatrist throughout a structural clinical interview (K-SADS-PL). Forty-four participants had positive diagnosis for at least one AD. The total score of the SCARED significantly differentiated anxious from non-anxious children with an optimal cutoff point of 22 (sensitivity = 81.8 %; specificity = 52.0 %). SCARED subscales of social phobia and separation anxiety disorder, but not generalized anxiety disorder, revealed better discrimination proprieties than total scores to screen for that specific disorder (p < .05). Both total and specific SCARED scores presented moderate sensitivity and specificity for detecting AD in a community sample. Investigators interested in screening for specific AD, rather than the group of AD, may benefit from using the specific subscales.

Reliability and convergent validity of the Childhood Anxiety Sensitivity Index in children and adolescents

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the reliability and the convergent validity of the Children Anxiety Sensitivity Index (CASI) with DSM-IV anxiety disorder symptoms, by comparison with the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED), in a community sample of Brazilian children and adolescents. METHODS: Children and adolescents from five schools were selected from a larger study that aimed to assess different aspects of childhood anxiety disorders. All participants completed the CASI and the SCARED. RESULTS: This study supported the reliability of the CASI total score. Girls reported higher total anxiety sensitivity scores than boys and there were no differences in total anxiety sensitivity scores between children and adolescents. This study showed moderate to high correlations between the CASI scores with SCARED scores, all correlations coefficients being positive and significant. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate an appropriate reliability and evidence of convergent validity in the CASI in a sample of Brazilian children and adolescents.

Increased Activity Imbalance in Fronto-Subcortical Circuits in Adolescents with Major Depression

BackgroundA functional discrepancy exists in adolescents between frontal and subcortical regions due to differential regional maturational trajectories. It remains unknown how this functional discrepancy alters and whether the influence from the subcortical to the frontal system plays a primacy role in medication naïve adolescent with major depressive disorder (MDD).Methodology/Principal FindingsEighteen MDD and 18 healthy adolescents were enrolled. Depression and anxiety severity was assessed by the Short Mood and Feeling Questionnaire (SMFQ) and Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED) respectively. The functional discrepancy was measured by the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) of resting-state functional MRI signal. Correlation analysis was carried out between ALFF values and SMFQ and SCARED scores. Resting brain activity levels measured by ALFF was higher in the frontal cortex than that in the subcortical system involving mainly (para) limbic-striatal regions in both HC and MDD adolescents. The difference of ALFF values between frontal and subcortical systems was increased in MDD adolescents as compared with the controls.Conclusions/SignificanceThe present study identified an increased imbalance of resting-state brain activity between the frontal cognitive control system and the (para) limbic-striatal emotional processing system in MDD adolescents. The findings may provide insights into the neural correlates of adolescent MDD.

Effects of mental health on quality of life in children and adolescents living in residential and foster care: a cross-sectional study

This study was conducted in order to evaluate the effects of mental health and quality of life (QOL) in children and adolescents living in residential and foster care. Two hundred and sixteen children and adolescents, aged 8-18 years, from residential and foster care participated. QOL was assessed using the Pediatric Quality-of-Life Inventory (PedsQL), levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms using the screen for child anxiety-related emotional disorders (SCARED) questionnaire and the short mood and feeling questionnaire (SMFQ), and general mental health through use of the strengths and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ). The children and adolescents from residential care had significantly low QOL and more frequently had mental health problems. A stepwise linear regression was performed to test the associations between the SCARED, SMFQ and SDQ scores, and PedsQL (QOL). Anxiety, depressive symptoms and general mental difficulties account for significant variations in QOL (p < 0.001). Mental health problems have significant negative effects on the QOL of children and adolescents living in residential and foster care.

Psychometric Properties of the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED) in the General Adolescent Population

This study examined the psychometric properties of the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED) in a large sample of adolescents from the general population. In 2001, 1,340 junior high and high school adolescents in the Netherlands completed the SCARED. The SCARED is a questionnaire that purports to measure five child and adolescent anxiety symptom dimensions. The factor structure of the SCARED was investigated by means of confirmatory factor analyses that were conducted for males and females, early (10-13 years) and middle (14-18 years) adolescent groups, and for Dutch and ethnic minorities. Analyses of variance were carried out to compare mean scores for the various groups. The five-factor structure of the SCARED not only had the best fit for the general adolescent population but also for the age, gender, and ethnic groups. It was also found that the SCARED scores of the adolescent subgroups differed from one another in agreement with previous studies on adolescent anxiety disorder symptoms. The findings of this study support the claim that the SCARED has a five-factor structure. The usefulness of the SCARED was also demonstrated.