Abstract:
Kiddie-Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia- Present and Lifetime
Version (K-SADS-PL) is an extensively used assessment and diagnostic measure to
assess psychopathology in research and clinical settings. However, evidence for
psychometric properties of this diagnostic measure in Urdu language is lacking and
needs to be established. The objective of this study was to determine the convergent
and divergent validity of affective, anxiety and disruptive behavior disorder diagnosis
generated through Urdu version of K-SADS-PL. The comparison measures include
Strength and Difficulty Questionnaire (SDQ), Childhood Anxiety and Sensitivity
Index (CASI) and Disruptive Behavior Disorders (DBDRS) for children and
adolescents (age range= 6-18 years; Mean age= 11.95 and SD= 3.00). The study was
carried out in Islamabad and Lahore from April 2018 to July 2019. Data was collected
through convenience sampling from clinical and community settings. Children and
one of their primary caregivers were interviewed in an order specified by K-SADSPL. Diagnostic status was developed through the final summary of K-SADS-PL
interview. Parents and children also provided rating of the symptoms on SDQ, CASI
and DBDRS. In the analysis, presence of anxiety diagnosis significantly contributed
to the regression model (F = 14.3, p=.000) accounting for 19% of the variance.
Similarly, presence of disruptive behavior disorder diagnosis significantly contributed
to the regression model and predicted externalizing symptoms F (1,58) = 11.41,
P=.000, R2=16.4. However, convergent validity of affective disorders was not
supported in the study. The findings provided preliminary evidence for the convergent
and divergent validity of K-SADS-PL diagnosis. Results of the present study suggests
that K-SADS-PL- Urdu version generates valid diagnosis of anxiety and disruptive
behavior disorders. K-SADS-PL can be a helpful measure for the practitioners and
xiv
Psychometric properties of K-SADS-PL
clinical researchers as it covers most of the dimensions of psychopathology in
children and adolescents.
