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Table 2 Comparison of Item Numbers and Cutoffs for Each Subscale of DISC Predictive Scales in MECA and NHSDA

From: Prevalence and co-occurrence of psychiatric symptom clusters in the U.S. adolescent population using DISC predictive scales

 

Total

SiPh

SoPh

Agor

OAD

OCD

SAD

Eat

MDD

Adhd

ODD

CD

Elim

Man

Panic

Study based on MECA a

            

Not in previous report b

   # items in full DISC

206

14

8

4

17

13

18

7

27

44

12

24

   

   # items in DPS

77c

7

5

3

7

7

8

3

9

13

7

9

   

   Optimal DPS cutoff

 

≥ 2

≥ 1

≥ 1

≥ 4

≥ 1

≥ 3

≥ 2

≥ 4

≥ 4

≥ 4

≥ 2

   

   Sensitivity

 

0.77

0.89

0.37

0.85

0.91

0.89

0.90

0.98

1.00

0.96

1.00

   

   Specificity

 

0.79

0.74

0.96

0.92

0.72

0.85

0.88

0.90

0.85

0.94

0.98

   

NHSDA 2000

               

   # items in NHSDA

71

7

2

4

4

5

7

4

7

6

7

8

3

5

2

   Proposed cutoff

 

≥ 3

≥ 2

≥ 2

≥ 3

≥ 3

≥ 4

≥ 2

≥ 5

≥ 4

≥ 4

≥ 2

= 3

= 5

= 2

  1. Note: DISC = Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children (v2.3); DPS = DISC Predictive Scales; MECA = Methods for the Epidemiology of Child and Adolescent Mental Disorders; SiPh= simple phobia, a.k.a. specific anxiety in DSM-IV; SoPh = social phobia; Agor = agoraphobia; OAD = overall anxious disorder, or general anxiety disorder in DSM-IV; OCD = obsessive-compulsive disorders; SAD = separation anxiety disorder; Eat = eating disorders; MDD = major depressive disorders; ADHD = attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder; ODD = oppositional defiant disorder; CD = conduct disorders; Elim = elimination disorders; Man = Mania; Panic = Panic disorders.
  2. a. From Lucas et al. 2001. Adjustment was made based on further data analysis and pilot studies of DPS by Lucas.
  3. b. Three sub-scales in the 2000 NHSDA were not reported in previous methodological study. Due to lack of data on sensitivity and specificity for these scales, we used the maximum score (positive on all items) as the cutoff for the predictive diagnosis.
  4. c. Excluding one question on substance use disorder, which was replaced by 19 items in NHSDA.