The Social Phobia Inventory: Validity and reliability in an adolescent community sample.

Social anxiety disorder and social anxiety are highly prevalent psychological conditions in youth. Because of the known risks associated with the spectrum of social anxiety in youth, early detection with valid and reliable assessment measures is imperative. Self-report measures have become the most widely used method of assessment for child and adolescent social anxiety. Because research to date on self-report measures of social anxiety disorder in adolescents is limited, the primary objective of the present study was to contribute to the literature by examining the validity and reliability of a new self-report measure, the Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN), in a community sample of adolescents. The SPIN is a 17-item measure purported to assess the full spectrum of social anxiety disorder symptomatology. Previously, psychometric research on the SPIN in adult populations has demonstrated its validity and reliability. In the current psychometric examination, results revealed strong support for the temporal stability, internal consistency, and construct validity of the SPIN, suggesting it is an appropriate screening measure for the assessment of social anxiety disorder in adolescents. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Negative affectivity in children: A multitrait-multimethod investigation.

The present study investigated the use of the broad-band construct, negative affectivity, with children's self-report measures of depression, anxiety, and anger. A multitrait-multimethod analysis was conducted to intercorrelate scores from self-report measures with scale and subscale scores of the Child Behavior Checklist–Teacher Report Form ({cbcl-trf}). The resulting matrix revealed significant correlations among the self-report measures of anxiety and depression and revealed that these measures correlated significantly with the Internalizing scale scores of the {cbcl-trf}. However, correlations between the individual self-report measures and their corresponding {cbcl-trf} scale scores were not significant. Regression analyses indicated that both depression and anxiety self-report measures were predictors of the {cbcl-trf} Internalizing scale, but no self-report measures were predictive of the {cbcl-trf} Externalizing scale. Findings suggest that the child self-report measures of anxiety and depression used in this study can best be conceptualized as measures of a broad-band construct rather than of the narrow-band dimensions of anxiety and depression. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Relationship of Children's Depression Inventory factors to major depression among adolescents.

This study examined the relationship between the Children"s Depression Inventory (CDI) scores and major depression, conduct disorder, and anxiety disorder diagnoses. Participants were 107 (58 male, 49 female) psychiatric inpatients, aged 12–18 years (M?=?15.4, SD?=?1.5). Definite major depression participants (n?=?26) reported higher scores than nondepressed participants (absence of any depression diagnosis, n?=?81) on all 5 CDI factor scores and the total CDI score. Conduct disorder participants scored higher on the externalizing factor; no other significant main or interaction effects were obtained for conduct disorder or anxiety. A discriminant function model using the 5 CDI factor scores classified participants as depressed versus nondepressed with a high degree of accuracy; a model using only the CDI total score yielded comparable discriminatory accuracy. The CDI total score was recommended as the most practical measure for classifying participants as depressed or not depressed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Structure of anxiety and the anxiety disorders: A hierarchical model.

The authors used a semistructured clinical interview and a self-report battery of questionnaires to measure key features of the anxiety disorders in a large sample of patients seeking treatment at an outpatient anxiety disorders clinic and in a no mental disorder group. Results were consistent with hierarchical models of anxiety and the anxiety disorders such as the model implicit in American Psychiatric Association (1987, 1994) and trait models positing a trait diathesis common to all the anxiety disorders. A higher order general factor differentiated each of the patient groups from the no mental disorder group. Several lower order factors provided the basis for differentiation among the patient groups. Conclusions regarding the degree to which models predicting a hierarchical structure of anxiety and the anxiety disorders are empirically supported must await replication of these results with additional samples. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A new inventory to assess childhood social anxiety and phobia: The Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory for Children.

The development, reliability, and validity of a new instrument, the Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory for Children (SPAI-C), is described. The results indicate that the SPAI-C has high test–retest reliability and internal consistency. In addition, an assessment of concurrent and external validity indicates statistically significant correlations with commonly used self-report measures of general anxiety and fears and parental reports of children's anxiety and social competence. The results of a factor analysis indicate that the scale consists of three factors: Assertiveness/General Conversation, Traditional Social Encounters, and Public Performance. Finally, scores on the SPAI-C successfully differentiate socially anxious and non-socially-anxious children. The instrument appears to be a reliable and valid measure for childhood social anxiety and fear and may prove useful for improving clinical assessment and documenting treatment outcome. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Why are depression and anxiety correlated? A test of the tripartite model.

L. A. Clark and D. Watson's (1991) tripartite model groups the symptoms of depression and anxiety into 3 components: nonspecific symptoms of general distress, which do not distinguish depression and anxiety; physiologic arousal, which is relatively unique to anxiety; and anhedonia (or low positive affect), which is unique to depression. Structural equation modeling was used to test this model with self-report data from 3 different samples: outpatients seeking treatment for mood disorder, anxiety disorder, or both (n?=?483), outpatients seeking treatment for substance abuse (n?=?453), and college students (n?=?516). The tripartite model did not fit any of the sample covariance matrices, because the nonspecific symptoms of depression and anxiety could not be adequately represented by a single General Distress factor. An alternative model, in which the Anhedonia and Nonspecific Depression factors loaded on a second-order Depression factor, while the Somatic Arousal and Nonspecific Anxiety factors loaded on a second-order Anxiety factors produced an excellent fit in all the groups. The Nonspecific Depression and Nonspecific Anxiety factors were the most valid and specific indicators of depression and anxiety, respectively. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Relevance of aquatic biodegradation tests for predicting degradation of polymeric materials during biological solid waste treatment

L. A. Clark and D. Watson's (1991) tripartite model groups the symptoms of depression and anxiety into 3 components: nonspecific symptoms of general distress, which do not distinguish depression and anxiety; physiologic arousal, which is relatively unique to anxiety; and anhedonia (or low positive affect), which is unique to depression. Structural equation modeling was used to test this model with self-report data from 3 different samples: outpatients seeking treatment for mood disorder, anxiety disorder, or both (n = 483) outpatients seeking treatment for substance abuse (n = 453), and college students (n = 516). The tripartite model did not fit any of the sample covariance matrices, because the nonspecific symptoms of depression and anxiety could not be adequately represented by a single General Distress factor. An alternative model, in which the Anhedonia and Nonspecific Depression factors loaded on a second-order Depression factor, while the Somatic Arousal and Nonspecific Anxiety factors loaded on a second-order Anxiety factor, produced an excellent fit in all the groups. The Nonspecific Depression and Nonspecific Anxiety factors were the most valid and specific indicators of depression and anxiety, respectively. Anhedonia and Somatic Arousal were significantly less valid measures of depression and anxiety. The implications of these findings are discussed.     

Reliability and validity of the Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory for adolescents.

Although social anxiety is known to be common among adolescents, there are no self-report measures with demonstrated reliability and validity for this population. The Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory (SPAI) is a measure of social anxiety developed for adults. The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability and validity of the SPAI for adolescents. The sample consisted of 223 adolescents (aged 12–18 yrs) from both clinical and community sources. Confirmatory factor analysis established the validity of the 2 separate factors of Social Phobia and Agoraphobia. Reliability estimates by Cronbach alpha were acceptable for the SPAI subscales and total. The SPAI demonstrated good construct validity, showing statistically significant relationships with independent measures of social phobia and other anxiety variables. The results demonstrate that the SPAI is a reliable and valid measure of social phobia for adolescents. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Child–Adolescent Suicidal Potential Index (CASPI): A screen for risk for early onset suicidal behavior.

This study's purpose was to develop a reliable and valid self-report questionnaire, the Child–Adolescent Suicidal Potential Index (CASPI), to screen for risk for suicidal behavior in children and adolescents. Four hundred twenty-five child and adolescent psychiatric patients and nonpatients completed the CASPI and other research instruments to rate suicidal and assaultive behavior and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and hopelessness. The 30-item CASPI involves 3 factors (anxious–impulsive depression, suicidal ideation or acts, family distress) that contributed to a unidimensional 2nd-order factor accounting for 59% of the total variance. Internal consistency (alpha) for the total score was .90, and test-retest reliability (ICC) for the total score was .76. Total score distinguished between children and adolescents with different severity of psychopathology and different levels of suicidal and assaultive behavior. Each of the 3 factors had different contributions to discriminating between levels of suicidal status. CASPI total score of 11 distinguished suicidal ideation or acts from nonsuicidal behavior, with sensitivity 70% and specificity 65%. CASPI total score positively correlated with symptom severity of depression, anxiety, and hopelessness. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Prevention and early intervention for anxiety disorders: A controlled trial.

The Queensland Early Intervention and Prevention of Anxiety Project evaluated the effectiveness of a cognitive-behavioral and family-based group intervention for preventing the onset and development of anxiety problems in children. A total of 1,786 7- to 14-year-olds were screened for anxiety problems using teacher nominations and children's self-report. After recruitment and diagnostic interviews, 128 children were selected and assigned to a 10-week school-based child- and parent-focused psychosocial intervention or to a monitoring group. Both groups showed improvements immediately postintervention. At 6 months follow-up, the improvement maintained in the intervention group only, reducing the rate of existing anxiety disorder and preventing the onset of new anxiety disorders. Overall, the results showed that anxiety problems and disorders identified using child and teacher reports can be successfully targeted through an early intervention school-based program. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Relationship of Children's Depression Inventory factors to diagnosed depression.

The relationships between factor scores on the Children's Depression Inventory and diagnosed depression, anxiety, oppositional disorder, attention deficit disorder, and conduct disorder were examined. Ss were 70 psychiatric inpatients (45 boys, 25 girls) ranging in age from 6–13 yrs. Using diagnostic group comparisons and regression analyses, it was found that depressed Ss had higher scores on the dysphoric mood, loss of personal and social interest, and self-deprecation factors; the acting-out factor was related to oppositional disorder; and the vegetative-symptoms factor tended to be related to overanxious disorder. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Anxiety, intelligence, and discrimination.

Found discrimination on the semantic differential, i.e., the degree to which the proportions of responses in each of the 7-scale categories become more equal, to be related to anxiety scores on a self-report measure of anxiety (R = .32, t     

The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Trait version: structure and content re-examined

Although the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) is a popular measure of anxiety, some previous research suggests that the trait scale may assess depression, as well as anxiety. The factor structure of the trait items was initially examined using factor analytic procedures. Confirmatory factor analytic methods suggested that a hierarchical solution best fit the data, with one overall factor and two lower order factors. The lower order subscales created from this factor solution were examined in a sample of individuals diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. Overall, the results offered good support for the notion that the trait scale of the STAI assesses depression, as well as anxiety. One set of items appeared to assess anxiety and worry, whereas the other assessed sadness and self-deprecation. The two subscales correlated differentially with other measures of anxiety and depression in a manner that was consistent with their content. Finally, diagnostic groups and controls could be meaningfully distinguished on these subscales. Implications for the use of this measure are discussed.     

Hierarchical structure and general factor saturation of the Anxiety Sensitivity Index: Evidence and implications.

The Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI) is one of the most widely used measures of the construct of anxiety sensitivity. Until the recent introduction of a hierarchical model of the ASI by S. O. Lilienfeld, S. M. Turner, and R. G. Jacob (1993), the factor structure of the ASI was the subject of debate, with some researchers advocating a unidimensional structure and others proposing multidimensional structures. In the present study, involving 432 outpatients seeking treatment at an anxiety disorders clinic and 32 participants with no mental disorder, the authors tested a hierarchical factor model. The results supported a hierarchical factor structure consisting of 3 lower order factors and 1 higher order factor. It is estimated that the higher order, general factor accounts for 60% of the variance in ASI total scores. The implications of these findings for the conceptualization and assessment of anxiety sensitivity are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Relationship between a behavioral and several psychometric measures of test anxiety

Behavioral time-sampling was compared with various paper-and-pencil, self-report measures of test anxiety in an examination of the utility of the behavioral measure as an in situo index of test anxiety. The behavioral measure was significantly and positively correlated 0.45 with a paper-and pencil, self-report measure of "facilitative" test anxiety but not with measures of "debilitative" test anxiety (r = -0.15) or general anxiety (r = -0.33) for 12 males and 21 female undergraduates.     

The reliability and validity of the Panic Disorder Self-Report: A new diagnostic screening measure of panic disorder.

This study examined the Panic Disorder Self-Report (PDSR), a new self-report diagnostic measure of panic disorder based on the 4th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (American Psychiatric Association, 1994). PDSR diagnoses were compared with structured interview diagnoses of individuals with generalized anxiety disorder, social phobia, and panic disorder and nonanxious controls. Receiver operating characteristic analyses revealed that the PDSR showed 100% specificity and 89% sensitivity. The PDSR also demonstrated retest reliability, convergent and discriminant validity, and kappa agreement of .93 with a structured interview. Finally, the PDSR demonstrated clinical validity. Students who were identified as having panic disorder using the PDSR did not have significantly different scores on the Panic Disorder Severity Scale--Self-Report form (P. R. Houck, D. A. Speigel, M. K. Shear, & P. Rucci, 2002) than a panic disordered community sample. However, both groups had significantly higher scores than students identified as not meeting criteria for panic disorder. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Child and parent reports of childhood anxiety: differences in coping styles

This study compares children anxious only on parent report (PR) with those anxious on self-report (SR) and self- and parent report (SPR) to examine the reasons for the reporting differences. Sixty-five children aged 7-12 years who met criteria for one or more Axis I anxiety disorders (25% with comorbid nonanxiety diagnoses) completed standardized measures of anxiety, depression, and coping style. Parents completed measures of child psychopathology and adult coping style. Assessing clinicians completed the Global Assessment of Functioning. All parents endorsed anxiety in their children. Based on their responses on standardized self-report measures of anxiety, children were classified as endorsing anxiety (SPR group) or not endorsing anxiety (PR group). Multivariate analysis of variance revealed that children in the SPR group endorsed more depression and employed a greater variety of coping strategies than children in the PR group. The two groups did not differ on parent or clinician measures. These findings suggest that reporting differences may be related to differences in coping styles in anxious children. SPR children may over report anxiety symptoms due to feelings of decreased self-worth associated with depressive thinking, whereas PR children may be able to distract themselves from their anxieties. The lack of difference in functioning between the two groups suggests that self-report anxiety questionnaire scores are not necessarily indicative of severity.     

Industry''s perception and use of occupational exposure limits

OBJECTIVE: To examine posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in mothers of survivors of childhood cancer. Comorbidity of anxiety and depressive disorders, prevalence of subclinical PTSD, and the utility of a self-report measure as a screening instrument for PTSD were also investigated. METHOD: Mothers (n = 65) completed a questionnaire self-report PTSD checklist (PCL-C). Mothers were administered several modules of the SCID: nonpatient edition by telephone, including the PTSD, Generalized Anxiety, and Major Depressive Disorder modules. RESULTS: We diagnosed 6.2% of the sample with current PTSD. An additional 20% had subclinical PTSD. One of four mothers with PTSD diagnoses had a comorbid diagnosis of an anxiety and depressive disorder. The PCL-C evidenced diagnostic utility as a screening instrument. However, a moderate number of false-positives would result if the recommended cut-off on the instrument was used. CONCLUSIONS: The PCL-C had diagnostic utility in screening mothers of childhood cancer survivors. The presence of comorbid diagnoses such as anxiety and depression should be examined.     

Overt and covert coparenting processes in the family

This article introduces a new self-report instrument designed to measure the frequency of parental behaviors thought to promote or undermine children's sense of family. Members of 103 married couples rated their behavior in both public (all family members present) and private (alone with child) contexts. Factor analyses of these data revealed four distinct factors indexing: behaviors in the service of promoting a sense of Family Integrity, largely covert parent-to-child communications undermining, or conveying Disparagement of, the coparental partner; overt interparental Conflict in the presence of the child; and coparental disciplinary activities (Reprimand). Significant husband-wife correlations were found on each of the four individual subscales. Construct-specific intercorrelations also obtained between like scales on the new measure and on the Family Environment Scale and Quality of Coparenting Scale. Cluster analyses of husbands' and wives' scores on the four Coparenting Scale factors suggested five "types" of coparenting families: Disconnected, Supportive, Average, Distressed-Conflicted, and Passionate. These clusters, along with the value of self-report instruments in assessing coparenting behaviors that may be largely clandestine in nature, are discussed.     

Empirical evaluation of DSM-IV generalized anxiety disorder criteria in children and adolescents

Evaluated the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed. [DSM-IV], American Psychiatric Association, 1994) generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) criteria in children and adolescents. Clinic-referred children meeting criteria for DSM-IV GAD, those meeting criteria for another DSM-IV anxiety disorder, and normal children participated in a structured interview and completed self-report questionnaires. Groups were compared in terms of interview and self-report measures to examine convergent and discriminant validity. In addition, developmental differences, cross-informant symptom and syndrome agreement, and validity of parent and child report were determined. Finally, the symptoms comprising the GAD associated symptom criterion (Criterion C) were examined in terms of rate of endorsement and predictive power. Results showed that parameters of worry differentiated children with GAD from those with other anxiety disorders and controls. Developmental differences in the sample did not appear to necessitate a separate criteria set for the classification of generalized anxiety in children of this age. Symptoms from GAD Criterion C evidenced moderately high rates of endorsement and acceptable predictive power. Overall, the DSM-IV GAD criteria for children and adolescents are supported, but further evaluation is necessary before firm conclusions can be drawn.