R. Goodman et al., Using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) to screen for child psychiatric disorders in a community sample, BR J PSYCHI, 177, 2000, pp. 534-539
Background Child psychiatric disorders are common and treatable, but often
go undetected and therefore remain untreated.
Aims To assess the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) as a pote
ntial means for improving the detection of child psychiatric disorders in t
he community.
Method SDQ predictions and independent psychiatric diagnoses were compared
in a community sample of 7984 5- to 15-year-olds from the 1999 British Chil
d Mental Health Survey.
Results Multi-informant (parents, teachers, older children) SDQs identified
individuals with a psychiatric diagnosis with a specificity of 94.6% (95%
CI 94.1-95.1%) and a sensitivity of 63.3% (59.7-66.9%). The questionnaires
identified over 70% of individuals with conduct. hyperactivity, depressive
and some anxiety disorders, but under 50% of individuals with specific phob
ias, separation anxiety and eating disorders. Sensitivity was substantially
poorer with single-informant rather than multi-informant SDQs.
Conclusions Community screening programmes based on multi-informant SDQs co
uld potentially increase the detection of child psychiatric disorders, ther
eby improving access to effective treatments.