ABSTRACT
Background: There are few psychometric instruments whose properties have been studied in a developing country's context. Aim: To determine the psychometric properties of the Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children (MASC) in Nairobi public secondary school children; Kenya. Method: Concurrent self-administration of the MASC and Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) to students in Nairobi public secondary schools. Results: The MASC had a high overall internal consistency alpha co-efficient (0.85) in the Kenyan sample; which is similar to Western findings; and is hence a reliable tool for measuring anxiety in the study population. It was also similar to the findings from two Western studies in the anxiety domains of physical symptoms; social anxiety; separation anxiety and harm avoidance. The correlation co-efficient with CDI was similar to Scandinavian findings. Conclusion: The MASC can be used in Kenyan children and; by extension; other Africa children
Subject(s)
Manifest Anxiety Scale , Psychometrics , Schools , StudentsABSTRACT
Background:There are few psychometric instruments whose properties have been studied in a developing country's context.Aim: To determine the psychometric properties of the Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children (MASC) in Nairobi public secondary school children; Kenya.Method: Concurrent self-administration of the MASC and Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) to students in Nairobi public secondary schools.Results: The MASC had a high overall internal consistency alpha co-efficient (0.85) in the Kenyan sample; which is similar to Western findings; and is hence a reliable tool for measuring anxiety in the study population.It was also similar to the findings from two Western studies in the anxiety domains of physical symptoms; social anxiety; separation anxiety and harm avoidance.The correlation co-efficient with CDI was similar to Scandinavian findings.Conclusion: The MASC can be used in Kenyan children and; by extension; other Africa children
Subject(s)
Anxiety , Child , PsychometricsABSTRACT
Background:There are few psychometric instruments whose properties have been studied in a developing country's context.Aim: To determine the psychometric properties of the Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children (MASC) in Nairobi public secondary school children; Kenya.Method: Concurrent self-administration of the MASC and Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) to students in Nairobi public secondary schools.Results: The MASC had a high overall internal consistency alpha co-efficient (0.85) in the Kenyan sample; which is similar to Western findings; and is hence a reliable tool for measuring anxiety in the study population.It was also similar to the findings from two Western studies in the anxiety domains of physical symptoms; social anxiety; separation anxiety and harm avoidance.The correlation co-efficient with CDI was similar to Scandinavian findings.Conclusion: The MASC can be used in Kenyan children and; by extension; other Africa children
Subject(s)
Anxiety , Child , PsychometricsABSTRACT
"Background: When a patient presents with mental illness and displays psychotic symptoms which are not clearly delineated; a clinical diagnosis of psychosis is usually enter-tained. Aim: To determine the underlying Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fourth edition (DSM-IV) disorders in clinical entities admitted with a working diagnosis of ""psychosis"" at Mathari Psychiatric Hospital; Nairobi; Kenya. Study Design: Descriptive cross-sectional quantitative study Method: A total of 138 patients with a working diagnosis of ""psychosis"" on admission at Mathari Hospital during the period of this study were recruited over a one-month period. Their DSM-IV diagnoses were made using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID). Analysis of the results was done using SPSS version 11.5. Results: Nearly three quarters (72.5) of the patients were male; 68.5were aged between 20 and 34 years and 63.7reported that they were single. Nearly half (49.2) had attained up to 12 years of formal education and 90were dependants of a member of the family. The most common DSM-IV diagnoses were schizophrenia; bipolar disorder; substance abuse; depression and anxiety disorders. Co-morbidity was recorded with an average of three DSM-IV disorders. Conclusion: ""Psychosis"" as a working diagnosis was reported in relatively young adults. The patients whose working clinical diagnosis was ""psychosis"" met the criteria for an average of three DSM-IV diagnoses. There is need for a proactive policy in clinical practice so that definitive diagnoses rather than just ""psychosis"" are made and appropriate management initiated as early as possible."