NCJ Number
205351
Date Published
May 2004
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This study examined associations between the Massachusetts Youth
Screening Instrument-Second Version (MAYSI-2) and the Diagnostic
Interview Schedule for Children-Present State Voice Version
(DISC-IV) and the extent to which MAYSI-2 subscales map onto
DISC-IV disorders and conditions.
Abstract
Access was provided to juvenile residents of the New Jersey
Training School for Boys and the South Carolina Northeast
Reception Center. The average youth in the sample of 325 was 17
years old and in the ninth grade. The State subsamples differed
somewhat, reflecting differences in demographics, local laws, and
arrest practices in the two States. The juveniles completed the
MAYSI-2 at admission. The widely used MAYSI-2 was developed to
screen juveniles in the justice system with potential emotional
or behavioral programs. The Voice DISC computer program presents
prerecorded questions through headphones, and written versions of
the same questions appear on the computer screen. Juveniles used
the keyboard or mouse to enter responses. Eighty percent of MAYSI-2
data were collected within 14 days of the completion of the DISC.
The DISC is the most extensively tested child and adolescent
diagnostic interview. Although the DISC-IV is not a screen, the
computerized, self-administered format lends itself to this use.
The study found that MAYSI-2 subscales generally mapped best onto
homotypic DISC-IV disorders, although many subscales also mapped
almost as well onto heterotypic disorders. Alcohol/Drug Use and
Suicide Ideation, respectively, identified youths reported
substance disorders and recent suicide attempts. Other subscales
also did not identify parallel DISC-IV disorders. The lack of
overlap for the two instruments on some disorders may result from
the MAYSI-2's combining of diagnostic constructs into single
subscales. The study concludes that in systems with multiple
means of referral, the MAYSI-2 is a useful intake screen, but its
usefulness as the only means for making diagnoses for treatment
purposes is limited. These results suggest the value of two
separate universal screenings, one for current safety concerns
and one for mental health service needs. Juveniles screening
positive on either instrument should be reviewed by a clinician,
although the purposes of these reviews will differ. 4 tables and
30 references
Date Published: May 1, 2004