Diagnostic disparities among maltreated youth in a child protective services agency

ABSTRACT

This study examined a CPS mental health assessment process to identify potential diagnostic disparities and concomitant differences in PTSD symptomatology. Participants included 145 youth aged 7–17 (M = 14.21, SD = 2.03) years from a CPS agency who were diagnosed by CPS clinicians and who completed trauma-based measures. White youth received a greater proportion of a generalized anxiety disorder diagnosis, whereas certain racial/ethnic marginalized youth received a greater proportion of internalizing/bipolar, developmental, externalizing, and psychotic disorders. The results may indicate the need for more culturally relevant and competent practices in brief assessment processes for maltreated youth in CPS agencies.

KEYWORDS:

• Diagnostic disparity
• racial/ethnic marginalized youth
• maltreatment
• child protective services agency

Biographical note

Dr. Kearney is Professor of Psychology at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Dr. Kearney’s research interests include school attendance problems and school refusal behavior, selective mutism, posttraumatic stress disorder in maltreated youth, perfectionism, and other anxiety-related conditions in children and adolescents as well as issues of quality of life in persons with severe handicaps. Ms. Burke is a doctoral student in the clinical psychology program at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Ms. Burke’s research interests include youth with school attendance problems, traumatic symptoms in maltreated adolescents, and social justice issues.

Disclosure statement

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

Data availability statement

Data are confidential as per agreement with the child protective services agency.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Shadie Burke

Shadie Burke is a doctoral student in the clinical psychology program at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Christopher A. Kearney

Christopher A. Kearney is Distinguished Professor of Psychology at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.