Work

Using the K-SADS psychosis screen to identify people with early psychosis or psychosis risk syndromes

Year: 2019

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Current methods to identify people with psychosis risk involve administration of specialized tools such as the Structured Interview for Psychosis-Risk Syndromes (SIPS), but these methods have not been widely adopted. Validation of a more multipurpose assessment tool-such as the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia (K-SADS)-may increase the scope of identification efforts. METHODS: We assessed the correspondence between SIPS-determined clinical high risk/early psychosis (CHR/early psychosis) status and K-SADS psychosis screen (child and parent reports and their combination) in a sample of 147 help-seeking individuals aged 12-25. Detailed classification results are reported. RESULTS: Both the child and parent interviews on the K-SADS psychosis screen were strongly predictive of CHR/early psychosis status, although parent reports contributed no significant additional information beyond child reports. Across informants, the presence of either subthreshold hallucinations or subthreshold delusions was highly suggestive of CHR/early psychosis status as determined by SIPS interview (78% (child) and 74% (parent) accuracy). CONCLUSIONS: Subthreshold scores on the two-item K-SADS psychosis screen may be good indicators of the presence or absence of early signs of psychosis. The option of using a non-specialized assessment such as the K-SADS as a staged approach to assess for CHR/early psychosis status could increase rates of early psychosis screening and treatment.

Source: Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry

DOI: 10.1177/1359104519846582