Psychological measure paper

Psychological measure paper

Name

Institution

            In essence, children depression inventory CDI) is the tool which mental health professionals measure the severity of depression in children. Similarly, it is a self-report assessment done to adolescents and children between the age of 7 and 17 years. A review done by Michael Kavan categorized CDI in a form of the original of 27 item version through which the child is asked to select the answer, which describes his feelings over the past weeks. After the assessment is carried out, only a trained professional can accurately integrate the results. With this in mind, it is worth noting that, for the test to be essential it requires professional interpretation. In conjunction with this, it is worth noting that, children depression inventory is an essential assessment. First, it indicates the significant features of depression in adolescents and children similar to those of adults. With this in mind, CDI tends to cover fully the nine DSM-III-R symptoms categories for the diagnosing depressive syndrome for children. It is efficient and easy test beneficial to clinicians to measure childhood depression (Carlson & Cantwell, 1979).

In addition, an inventory done by Howard Knoff in children depression inventory indicated that, CDI should be used as a research tool in that, an investigator that does not have the resources of conducting the clinical reviews would not require the tool of subject selection. With this in mind, Michael Kavan approach of having a qualified professional to interpret results is similar to Howard Knoff point of view. Additionally, Howard conquer with Michael aspect of the CDI been a 27 item self report suitable for adolescents and school age from eight to 17 years. From this aspect, Howard outlines CDI to be essential in identifying children depression. Subsequently, both Michael and Howard have their findings in the scoring of CDI. Although the findings are similar to some extent, they tend to differ in explanation.

Michael outline that, each item of the 27 items consist of three items whereby respondents are asked to chose the statement that describes feelings for the pats two weeks. Scoring involves additional of numerical values which assigned by the response of each selected item. With this regard, the unpublished manuscript, which accompanies the CDI, offers information on reliability studies. Internal consistency was found to have 86 with diagnostically heterogeneous, 71 with pediatric medical outpatient group and 87 with the sample of children from Toronto public school. From Michael findings, item score for the three samples ranged from 08 to 62.  One-month test on 29 diagnosed children with diabetes were 43 although the reliability improved to 82 after the outlying subjects were subsequent analyzed. With this regard, Michael recommends the two-week test to be most appropriate and opposed to trait. This implies that, various normal and clinical samples reports inconsistent results in that, when similar results are evaluated they tend to vary depending on when is done. This assumption is similar to Howard opinion who outline in his findings explains that, the overall number of reliability questions exist which imposes the need for researchers to address it in the future. Howard points out that, researchers should predict the expected results when the test reliability is measured (Beck, 1967).

Michael aspect of concurrent validity of 102 diagnosed children aged 7-17 years that undergone impatient indicated that, patients with the higher rate of depression have higher ratings of depression semi-structured without knowledge of patients. Findings collected from Toronto school yielded one principal whereas from clinic children yielded seven factors. The results were similar to Howard although argues it differently from Michael assumption that, a time it could discriminate children with depressive disorders from those with adjustment disorders. Both outlines that, CDI has not been validated therefore should be yielded. Additionally, Michael limit normative data in that, the information is presented in rambling manuscript thus having standard errors. As a result, clinicians are left with little means of interpreting CDI score results. On the other hand, Howard is forthright in defining limitations along with equivocal CDI result. She sees it early to conclude the assessment tool outcome in that, there is potential of CDI scales measuring childhood depression. However, she sees the need of having a great deal in research in interpreting results. On the other hand, Michael outlines CDI as efficient and beneficial to clinicians. Unfortunately, more research is required on CDI.s

 

References

Beck, A. T. (1967). Depression: Clinical, experimental, and theoretical aspects. New York:           Harper & Row.

Carlson, G. A., & Cantwell, D. P. (1979). A survey of depressive symptoms in a child and            adolescent psychiatric population. Journal of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry,        18, 587-599.

Use the order calculator below and get started! Contact our live support team for any assistance or inquiry.

[order_calculator]