Gracious Barbara L, Youngstrom Eric A, Findling Robert L, Calabrese Joseph R
Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2002 Nov;41(11):1350-9. doi: 10.1097/00004583-200211000-00017.
To examine the usefulness of a parent report version of the Young Mania Rating Scale (P-YMRS) in distinguishing bipolar disorder from other mental health conditions in children and adolescents.
Parents of 117 youths aged 5 to 17 years presenting to an outpatient research center completed an adapted Young Mania Rating Scale (P-YMRS). Eligible subjects underwent a diagnostic evaluation including a semistructured instrument (Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children) and also a clinical evaluation by a child and adolescent psychiatrist in more than 75% of the subjects.
Factor analyses of the P-YMRS suggested one dimension, with a total score showing acceptable internal consistency (alpha =.75). Logistic regressions discriminated bipolar mood disorder versus unipolar disorder, versus disruptive behavior disorder, and versus any other diagnosis. Classification rates exceeded 78%, and receiver operating characteristics analyses showed good diagnostic efficiency, with areas under the curve greater than 0.82.
The P-YMRS may be used to derive clinically meaningful information about mood disorders in youths.
