Screening for affective dysregulation in school-aged children: relationship with comprehensive measures of affective dysregulation and related mental disorders

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • ADOPT Consortium - (Author)
  • Anne Katrin Treier - , University of Cologne (Author)
  • M. Döpfner - , University of Cologne (Author)
  • U. Ravens-Sieberer - , University of Hamburg (Author)
  • Anja Görtz-Dorten - , University of Cologne (Author)
  • M. Boecker - , University of Hamburg (Author)
  • Carolina Goldbeck - , University of Cologne (Author)
  • T. Banaschewski - , Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Pascal Maurice Aggensteiner - , Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • C. Hanisch - , University of Cologne (Author)
  • A. Ritschel - , University of Cologne (Author)
  • Michael Kölch - , University of Rostock, Ulm University (Author)
  • Andrea Daunke - , University of Rostock (Author)
  • Veit Roessner - , Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy (Author)
  • G. Kohls - , Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy (Author)
  • Anne Kaman - , University of Hamburg (Author)
  • University Hospital Ruppin-Brandenburg

Abstract

Affective dysregulation (AD) is characterized by irritability, severe temper outbursts, anger, and unpredictable mood swings, and is typically classified as a transdiagnostic entity. A reliable and valid measure is needed to adequately identify children at risk of AD. This study sought to validate a parent-rated screening questionnaire, which is part of the comprehensive Diagnostic Tool for Affective Dysregulation in Children (DADYS-Screen), by analyzing relationships with comprehensive measures of AD and related mental disorders in a community sample of children with and without AD. The sample comprised 1114 children aged 8–12 years and their parents. We used clinical, parent, and child ratings for our analyses. Across all raters, the DADYS-Screen showed large correlations with comprehensive measures of AD. As expected, correlations were stronger for measures of externalizing symptoms than for measures of internalizing symptoms. Moreover, we found negative associations with emotion regulation strategies and health-related quality of life. In receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses, the DADYS-Screen adequately identified children with AD and provided an optimal cut-off. We conclude that the DADYS-Screen appears to be a reliable and valid measure to identify school-aged children at risk of AD.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)381-390
Number of pages10
JournalEuropean Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Volume33
Issue number2
Early online date17 Feb 2023
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2024
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 36800039
WOS 000934750700001
ORCID /0000-0002-1753-7811/work/142248185
Mendeley 76395e38-344b-33f2-8fd6-0d0d41c86531
ORCID /0000-0003-2408-2939/work/172086059

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • Affective dysregulation, Children and adolescents, Parent report, Screening, Validation

Library keywords