Agile Screening

A Compendium of Neuropsychological Tests: Screens for Children and Youth

A compendium of neuropsychological tests by Agile Screening is explained in detail, specific to children and youth.

Compendium of Neuropsychological Tests Overview

Agile Screening offers a suite of mental health screens for children and youth (< 18 years). The screens are commonly used, evidence-based screens that compile self-reported symptoms consistent with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual V (DSM-V) related to anxiety, PTSD, phobia, and depression. They are used to help identify young clients who are experiencing symptoms that indicate they have or could have sustained a psychological injury. They are used to help identify youth who are experiencing symptoms that have put them at risk for developing, or indicate they have developed anxiety, stress, or depressive-related disorder. They do not provide a diagnosis but do provide direction on whether a child could benefit from further assessment or intervention to support recovery based on the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry practice guidelines1 2 3.

The primary strengths of this compendium of neuropsychological tests (screening tools) are:

  • The ability of anyone, including non-mental health professionals to identify clients who have symptoms consistent with psychological injury
  • Supports early intervention which has been shown to decrease recovery time and helps prevent more severe psychological injury
  • The algorithm that compiles results instantly saves the time it takes to do their paper/pencil format and determine the appropriate intervention
  • Provides comprehensive reports that include a list of symptoms reported by the client based on the DSM 5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders Edition 5) categories

Measures On Compendium of Neuropsychological Tests

The professionals involved in compiling these tools included experts in psychology, counseling, medicine, and software development. Following is a brief description of the screens.

SCARED (Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders)

This screen was developed in 1997 at the Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, and the University of Pittsburgh led by Dr. Birmaher4. There are two versions, SCARED-C (child version – age 11 – 17) and SCARED-P (parent version) that can be used together or independently. The SCARED has robust psychometric properties and performs consistently well in community and clinical settings across various countries. It is one of the most commonly used screens to assess childhood anxiety based on parent and child reporting. The SCARED identifies self-reported symptoms based on the following DSM-V categories:

  • Separation anxiety
  • Generalized anxiety
  • Social anxiety disorder (Social phobia)
  • School phobia
  • Panic/somatic symptoms

CES-DC (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale for Children)

This screen is a self-report instrument for identifying depressive symptoms in children aged 6 to 17 years old. It was developed in 1986 by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies5.

How Agile Screening Can Help You and Your Patients

Agile Screening was founded to address gaps in the identification of and treatment of invisible injuries like psychological and traumatic brain injuries for those who experienced trauma such as a motor vehicle collision. Getting the appropriate neuropsychological assessment for your patients specific to each person’s condition or trauma will aid in proper treatment.

For more information on screens available or any questions, contact the team at Agile Screening.

Resources

  1. Walter, H.J.; Bukstein, O.G.; Abright, A.R.; Keable, H; Ramtekkar, U.; Rippergr-Suhler, Je; Rockhill, C (2020) Clinical Practice Guideline for the Assessment and Treatment of Children and Adolescents with Anxiety Disorders Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 59 (10), 1107-1124 ↩

  2. American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (1998- revised 2010) Practice Parameter for the Assessment and Treatment of Children and Adolescents with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 49(4),414–430 ↩

  3. American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (1998 – revised 2007)) Practice Parameters for the Assessment and Treatment of Children and Adolescents with Depressive Disorders Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 37(10),63S-83S. ↩

  4. Birmaher, B., Khetarpal, S., Brent, D., Cully, M., Balach, L., Kaufman, J., & Neer, S. M. (1997). The Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED): Scale construction and psychometric characteristics. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 36(4), 545-553. ↩

  5. Faulstich ME, Carey MP, Ruggiero L, et al. 1986. Assessment of depression in childhood and adolescence: An evaluation of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for Children (CES-DC). American Journal of Psychiatry 143(8):1024-1027. ↩