Validity of Thai Diagnostic Interview for psychiatric disorders in Child and Adolescents-Revised (T-DICA-R): Adolescent version

Abstract

Objective To determine the validity of Thai Diagnostic Interview for psychiatric disorders in Child and Adolescents (T-DICA-R): adolescent version 13-17 years old.

Materials and methods T-DICA-R consisted of 13 modules in psychiatric disorder and 2 interview forms for adolescents (DICA-R-A) and parent (DICA-R-P). DICA-R had been translated ,back translated, cut few questions down, created new question-flows and  new crossing points. Samples were adolescents aged 13-17 years with their parents who had been diagnosed of the particular psychiatric disorders, some with other psychiatric disoders and normal adolescents, 26-68 pairs for each disorder, were from psychiatric hospitals under Department of Mental Health and Tulakarn Chalermprakait judicial hospital. Twenty five interviewers were  trained whom were nurses, psychologists, social workers. Statistical analysis of sensitivity and specificity and agreement between T-DICA-R and child psychiatrist were done.

Results  Sensitivity, specificity and kappa agreement of DICA-R-A and DICA-R-P were 0.77-0.93, 0.77-0.97, 0.59-0.83 and 0.60-0.87, 0.83-1.0, 0.52-0.83 respectively. Both forms, almost every modules had high specificity and agreement between T-DICA-R and child psychiatrist were substantial and almost perfect.

Conclusion  T-DICA-R aims to diagnosis 13 child psychiatric disorders. Interviewers have to trained and experienced prior clinical child psychiatry. It’s validity is high and could be useful where there is no child psychiatrist. Therefore, T-DICA-R: adolescent version is suitable to be used in both epidemiologic research and in child psychiatric clinics.