BACKGROUND The use of screening instruments can reduce waiting lists and increase treatment capacity. The aim of this study was to examine the usefulness of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) with the original UK scoring algorithms, when used as a screening instrument to detect mental health disorders among patients in the Norwegian Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) North Study. METHODS A total of 286 outpatients, aged 5 to 18 years, from the CAMHS North Study were assigned diagnoses based on a Development and Well-Being Assessment (DAWBA). The main diagnostic groups (emotional, hyperactivity, conduct and other disorders) were then compared to the SDQ scoring algorithms using two dichotomisation levels: 'possible' and 'probable' levels. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, and diagnostic odds ratio (ORD) were calculated. RESULTS Sensitivity for the diagnostic categories included was 0.47-0.85 ('probable' dichotomisation level) and 0.81-1.00 ('possible' dichotomisation level). Specificity was 0.52-0.87 ('probable' level) and 0.24-0.58 ('possible' level). The discriminative ability, as measured by ORD, was in the interval for potentially useful tests for hyperactivity disorders and conduct disorders when dichotomised on the 'possible' level. CONCLUSIONS The usefulness of the SDQ UK-based scoring algorithms in detecting mental health disorders among patients in the CAMHS North Study is only partly supported in the present study. They seem best suited to identify children and adolescents who do not require further psychiatric evaluation, although this as well is problematic from a clinical point of view.

中文翻译：

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优势和困难问卷作为挪威儿童和青少年心理健康服务的筛选工具，英国评分算法的应用。

背景技术筛查仪器的使用可以减少等待名单并提高治疗能力。本研究的目的是检查优势和困难问卷 (SDQ) 与原始英国评分算法的有用性，当用作筛选工具以检测挪威儿童和青少年心理健康服务 (CAMHS) 患者的心理健康障碍时) 北研究。方法 来自 CAMHS North 研究的 286 名 5 至 18 岁的门诊患者根据发育和幸福感评估 (DAWBA) 进行了诊断。然后将主要诊断组（情绪、多动、行为和其他障碍）与使用两个二分级别的 SDQ 评分算法进行比较：“可能”和“可能”级别。敏感性、特异性、阳性预测值、计算阴性预测值、阳性似然比、阴性似然比和诊断优势比（ORD）。结果 包括的诊断类别的敏感性为 0.47-0.85（“可能的”二分法水平）和 0.81-1.00（“可能的”二分法水平）。特异性为 0.52-0.87（“可能”水平）和 0.24-0.58（“可能”水平）。由 ORD 衡量的辨别能力处于对多动障碍和品行障碍进行潜在有用测试的区间内，当在“可能”水平上进行二分时。结论 本研究仅部分支持基于 SDQ UK 的评分算法在 CAMHS North 研究中检测患者精神健康障碍方面的有用性。