Kiddie-Infant Descriptive Instrument for Emotional States (KIDIES): use in children with developmental disorders.

The Kiddie-Infant Descriptive Instrument for Emotional States (KIDIES) was used to overcome the limitations of microanalytic facial observations and subjective assessments in the diagnosis of childhood developmental disorders. The KIDIES quantifies eight behavioral and eight affective dimensions by evaluating facial, vocal, gestural, and postural displays. In a sample of 42 subjects, KIDIES ratings distinguished between children with pervasive developmental disorder and a comparison group with mixed developmental diagnoses, and demonstrated sensitivity to emotional changes as a result of environmental shift. The results suggest that the KIDIES has potential as a reliable instrument for evaluating emotional and behavioral patterns in young developmentally disordered children.