Parent-child agreement on child psychiatric symptoms assessed via structured interview

J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 1986 Mar;27(2):181-90.

Abstract

Correlations between scores derived from structured interviews with 299 disturbed children aged 6-18 and their parents indicated low-to-moderate levels of agreement regarding the presence and severity of child psychiatric symptoms. Agreement was higher on behavior and conduct problems than on anxiety, fears, obsessions-compulsions, psychotic symptoms and affective disturbances. Parents reported more child behavior and conduct problems than children, whereas children reported more affective and neurotic symptoms than parents. Parent-child agreement also increased sharply with age.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Age Factors
  • Child
  • Child Behavior Disorders / diagnosis
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mental Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Parents*
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales*