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A multiple criterion screen for identifying secondary school children with psychiatric disorder: Characteristics and efficiency of screen

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

A. Macmillan*
Affiliation:
Human Development Unit, University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne
I. Kolvin*
Affiliation:
Human Development Unit, University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne
R. F. Garside
Affiliation:
Human Development Unit, University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne
A. R. Nicol
Affiliation:
Human Development Unit, University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne
I. M. Leitch
Affiliation:
Human Development Unit, University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne
*
1Address for reprints: Mr A. Macmillan, Department of Psychological Services and Research, Crichton Royal Hospital, Dumfries.
2Address for correspondence: Professor I. Kolvin, Human Development Unit, 1 Tankerville Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE2 3AH.

Synopsis

A multiple criterion screen was developed as part of a study which was designed to assess different types of intervention for school children with psychiatric disorder. The foremost requirement was that false positives be kept to a minimum, with selected children being unequivocally disturbed. Children were identified for treatment by the following measures: (a) teacher rating on the Rutter B2 Scale, giving a total score and subscores for neurotic and antisocial behaviour; (b) peer ratings on a sociometric measure, yielding isolation and rejection scores; and (c) self ratings on the Junior Eysenck Personality Inventory, specifically the neuroticism dimension. A weighting system was developed so that children could be selected on the basis of extreme scores on either teacher or self-rating measures alone, or by a combination of less extreme scores on more than one measure. The results are presented and discussed.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1980

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