Journal article
Validation of the Arab Youth Mental Health scale as a screening tool for depression/anxiety in Lebanese children
Child and adolescent psychiatry and mental health, Vol.5(1), pp.9-9
03/24/2011
DOI: 10.1186/1753-2000-5-9
PMCID: PMC3070665
PMID: 21435213
Abstract
Background: Early detection of common mental disorders, such as depression and anxiety, among children and adolescents requires the use of validated, culturally sensitive, and developmentally appropriate screening instruments. The Arab region has a high proportion of youth, yet Arabic-language screening instruments for mental disorders among this age group are virtually absent.
Methods: We carried out construct and clinical validation on the recently-developed Arab Youth Mental Health (AYMH) scale as a screening tool for depression/anxiety. The scale was administered with 10-14 year old children attending a social service center in Beirut, Lebanon (N = 153). The clinical assessment was conducted by a child and adolescent clinical psychiatrist employing the DSM IV criteria. We tested the scale's sensitivity, specificity, and internal consistency.
Results: Scale scores were generally significantly associated with how participants responded to standard questions on health, mental health, and happiness, indicating good construct validity. The results revealed that the scale exhibited good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.86) and specificity (79%). However, it exhibited moderate sensitivity for girls (71%) and poor sensitivity for boys (50%).
Conclusions: The AYMH scale is useful as a screening tool for general mental health states and a valid screening instrument for common mental disorders among girls. It is not a valid instrument for detecting depression and anxiety among boys in an Arab culture.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Validation of the Arab Youth Mental Health scale as a screening tool for depression/anxiety in Lebanese children
- Creators
- Ziyad Mahfoud - Department of Public Health; Weill Cornell Medical College; Doha, QatarSawsan Abdulrahim - Department of Health Promotion and Community Health; Faculty of Health Sciences; American University of Beirut; LebanonMadeleine Badaro Taha - Child and Adolescent Psychiatry; American University of Beirut Medical Center; LebanonTrudy Harpham - Department of Urban Development and Policy; London South Bank University; UKTaghreed El Hajj - Department of Health Promotion and Community Health; Faculty of Health Sciences; American University of Beirut; LebanonJihad Makhoul - Department of Health Promotion and Community Health; Faculty of Health Sciences; American University of Beirut; LebanonRima Nakkash - Department of Health Promotion and Community Health; Faculty of Health Sciences; American University of Beirut; LebanonMayada Kanj - Department of Health Promotion and Community Health; Faculty of Health Sciences; American University of Beirut; LebanonRema Afifi - Department of Health Promotion and Community Health; Faculty of Health Sciences; American University of Beirut; Lebanon
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Child and adolescent psychiatry and mental health, Vol.5(1), pp.9-9
- DOI
- 10.1186/1753-2000-5-9
- PMID
- 21435213
- PMCID
- PMC3070665
- NLM abbreviation
- Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health
- ISSN
- 1753-2000
- eISSN
- 1753-2000
- Publisher
- BioMed Central
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 03/24/2011
- Academic Unit
- Injury Prevention Research Center; Community and Behavioral Health
- Record Identifier
- 9984063127702771
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