Interpretation problems with the BASC-3 SRP-A F Index for patients with depressive disorders: An initial analysis and proposal for future research.

The Behavioral Assessment System for Children, 3rd edition (BASC-3) is a commonly used clinical assessment to evaluate a variety of behavioral and emotional concerns in children and adolescents. The focus of the current study is on the problematic interpretation of the F Index of the BASC-3 self-report measure for adolescents (SRP-A) suffering from depressive disorders. In this study, we used data from 214 patients in an adolescent partial hospitalization program within a psychiatric facility, all of whom were administered the BASC-3 SRP-A upon intake. Results suggest that the BASC-3 SRP-A F Index may confound an invalid response style of intentional overreporting with significant psychopathology in this specific psychiatric population. Our findings raise the question of similar confounding across psychiatric diagnoses and similar interpretation problems. We encourage further studies with independent samples of adolescents with a broad spectrum of diagnoses to address this question and offer a proposal if indeed there is evidence of a more generalized problem with the SRP-A F Index. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Prospective Pilot Study of the Mastering Each New Direction Psychosocial Family Systems Program for Pediatric Chronic Illness.

Psychosocial interventions for pediatric chronic illness (CI) have been shown to support health management. Interventions that include a family systems approach offer potentially stronger and more sustainable improvements. This study explores the biopsychosocial benefits of a novel family systems psychosocial intervention (MEND: Mastering Each New Direction). Forty-five families participated in a 21-session intensive outpatient family systems-based program for pediatric CI. Within this single arm design, families were measured on five domains of Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQL) self-report measures; Stress, Cognitive Functioning, Mental Health, Child HRQL, Family Functioning. Both survey and biological measures (stress: catecholamine) were used in the study. Results from multivariate general linear models showed positive pre-, post-, and 3-month posteffects in all five domains. The program effects ranged from small to moderate (η2  = .07-.64). The largest program effects were seen in the domains of cognitive functioning (η2  = .64) and stress (η2  = .27). Also, between disease groups, differences are noted and future implications for research and clinical practice are discussed. Conclusions suggest that the MEND program may be useful in helping families manage pediatric chronic illnesses. Study results also add to the growing body of literature suggesting that psychosocial interventions for pediatric chronic illness benefit from a family systems level of intervention.