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

• Published in: Journal of clinical child psychology 1997-12, Vol.26 (4), p.404-414
• Main Authors: Tracey, S A, Chorpita, B F, Douban, J, Barlow, D H
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescent Psychiatry - standards; Age Factors; Analysis of Variance; Anxiety Disorders - diagnosis; Anxiety Disorders - psychology; Behavioral Symptoms - classification; Case-Control Studies; Chi-Square Distribution; Child; Child Psychiatry - standards; Children; Criteria; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diagnosis, Differential; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV; Evaluation Studies as Topic; Female; Generalized anxiety disorders; Humans; Male; Manuals as Topic - standards; Observer Variation; Parents - psychology; Reproducibility of Results; ROC Curve; Terminology as Topic; Validity
• ISSN: 0047-228X
• DOI: 10.1207/s15374424jccp2604_9

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.