Parent–youth agreement on psychiatric diagnoses and symptoms: results from an adolescent outpatient clinical sample

Abstract

Objective

Previous research suggests that agreement, between youths and their parents, regarding assessment of youth psychiatric problems is limited. Due to this discrepancy, a multi-informant, multimethod approach is recommended when gathering psychopathological information. This study examines parent–youth agreement regarding youth psychiatric problems. It does so at a diagnostic level and at a symptom level, as well as studying the influence of age, gender, depressive disorder, anxiety disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as potential moderators of agreement.

Methods

The participants in this study were 61 adolescents aged 12–18 years and their parents. The K-SADS-PL DSM-5 was administered in two outpatient units, with adolescents and their parents interviewed separately. Participants also rated symptoms using a broad rating scale (Child Behavior Checklist and the Youth Self-Report) prior to being interviewed.

Results

Parent–youth agreement at a diagnostic level ranged from fair to excellent. Agreement at a symptom level was lower than that at a diagnostic level, ranging from poor to fair. These results indicate that parent–youth agreement regarding diagnosis and symptoms is higher than in most previous studies. The results also suggest that some variables, such as age, gender, depressive disorders, and ADHD, potentially influence agreement on symptoms.

Conclusion

These findings support the importance of gathering information from both children and parents, and that clinicians should consider moderating factors when integrating data from multiple informants.

Keywords:

• Agreement
• children
• assessment
• parent–youth agreement
• schedule for affective disorders and schizophrenia for school-age children Kiddie-SADS-PL (K-SADS)

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the children and their parents for participating in this study and the clinicians and clinical staff for their valued assistance.

Ethical approval

All procedures were in accordance with the ethical standards of the Institutional Research Committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. The Iceland’s National Bioethics Committee granted permission for this study (permission number 17-198).

Consent to participate

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the University of Iceland Research Fund.

Notes on contributors

Helga Jónsdóttir

Helga Jónsdóttir, MS, is a clinical psychologist at the Centre for Child Development and Behavior for the Primary Health Care of the Capital Area, Reykjavik, Iceland.

Hrafnkatla Agnarsdóttir

Hrafnkatla Agnarsdóttir, MS, is a clinical psychologist at the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Landspitali University Hospital, Reykjavik, Iceland.

Hrund Jóhannesdóttir

Hrund Jóhannesdóttir, MS, is a clinical psychologist at the State Diagnostic and Counselling Centre, Kopavogur, Iceland.

Orri Smárason

Orri Smárason, cand.psych, is a clinical psychologist and a PhD Fellow, Faculty of Psychology, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland.

Harpa Hrönn Harðardóttir

Harpa Hrönn Harðardóttir, MS, is a clinical psychologist at Municipal Service Center Breiðholts, Reykjavik, Iceland.

Davíð R. M. A. Højgaard

Davíð R. M. A. Højgaard, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and researcher at the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Aarhus University Hospital Psychiatry. Denmark.

Gudmundur Skarphedinsson

Gudmundur Skarphedinsson, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and professor, Faculty of Psychology, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland.