PSYCHOMETRIC PROPERTIES OF THE K-SADS-PL IN AN ISRAELI ADOLESCENT CLINICAL POPULATION

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the reliability and v alidity of the Schedule for Affective-Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Aged Children Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL) in an Israeli sample . Fifty-seven adolescent admissions to two psychiatric units were eval uated with the Hebrew translation of the K-SADS-PL. Inter-rater and mo ther-child agreement were evaluated for diagnoses, and 31 affective sy mptoms. K-SADS diagnoses were also compared with two-month unit evalua tion diagnoses as a measure of consensual validity. The reliability of assessing psychosocial functioning was also examined. Reliability and validity of diagnoses were good to excellent. Mother-child agreement faired less well on all measures. The use of semi-structured interview s and DSM-IV criteria in an Israeli adolescent psychiatric setting are discussed.