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Open Access 17-02-2023 | Original Contribution

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

Authors: A.-K. Treier, M. Döpfner, U. Ravens-Sieberer, A. Görtz-Dorten, M. Boecker, C. Goldbeck, T. Banaschewski, P.-M. Aggensteiner, C. Hanisch, A. Ritschel, M. Kölch, A. Daunke, V. Roessner, G. Kohls, A. Kaman, for the ADOPT Consortium

Published in: European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry | Issue 2/2024

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.

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Title: Screening for affective dysregulation in school-aged children: relationship with comprehensive measures of affective dysregulation and related mental disorders
Authors: A.-K. Treier
M. Döpfner
U. Ravens-Sieberer
A. Görtz-Dorten
M. Boecker
C. Goldbeck
T. Banaschewski
P.-M. Aggensteiner
C. Hanisch
A. Ritschel
M. Kölch
A. Daunke
V. Roessner
G. Kohls
A. Kaman
for the ADOPT Consortium
Publication date: 17-02-2023
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry / Issue 2/2024
Print ISSN: 1018-8827
Electronic ISSN: 1435-165X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-023-02166-z

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

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