Diagnostic Tool for Affective Dysregulation in Children–Screening Questionnaire (DADYS-Screen)

Abstract

The Diagnostic Tool for Affective Dysregulation in Children–Screening Questionnaire (DADYS-Screen; Otto et al., 2023) is a screening tool for affective dysregulation (AD) in children. The initial item pool was created based on existing instruments (e.g., Stringaris et al., 2012; Shields & Cicchetti, 1997; Irwin et al., 2012). Qualitative investigations included a Delphi rating and focus groups. The generated initial item pool included 67 items. Following content validity analysis, a remaining set of 14 items was included in the pre-DADYS-Screen. Results based on CTT and IRT resulted in 12 items. Data were collected from clinical and population-based samples. Sensitivity analyses revealed that these results hold for the subsample of those with complete data in all items of the screening tool. Factor analysis supported a one-factorial model. Results concerning reliability and validity were reported.

Keywords

Affective Dysregulation Screening, Children, Classical Test Theory, Diagnostic Tool, Irritability, Parent-Report, Sensitivity to Change

Authors

Otto, Christiane; Kaman, Anne; Barkmann, Claus; Döpfner, Manfred; Görtz-Dorten, Anja; Ginsberg, Claudia; Labarga, Sara Zaplana; Treier, Anne-Katrin; Roessner, Veit; Hanisch, Charlotte; Koelch, Michael; Banaschewski, Tobias; Ravens-Sieberer, Ulrike

---

Purpose

The DADYS-Screen is a parent-reported screening questionnaire on affective dysregulation in 8- to 12-year-old children.

Validity

No validity indicated.

Reliability

Internal consistency: Cronbach’s α = .94.

Factor Analysis

Confirmatory factor analysis: A one-factor solution explained 60% of the overall variance among the items with high factor loadings found (from .64 to .86). Model fit was determined based on a one-factorial confirmatory factor analysis using ULSMV-estimation (χ2 = 4496.21, df = 54, p < .001), with results indicating “mediocre” fit according to the RMSEA, 0.096, CI (90%) = 0.093–0.098, following Browne and Cudeck (1992), and good fit in relation to the baseline model according to the CFI (0.974) following Schermelleh-Engel et al. (2003).

Instrument: DADYS-Screen

Test Type

Original

Format

Items are rated using a 4-point scale. Administration methods include electronic and paper.

Language Available

English

Population Group

Human, Male, Female

Age Group

Childhood (birth-12 yrs), School Age (6-12 yrs)

Population Details

Location: Germany. Respondents: 8- to 12-year-old children and their parents.

Test Methodology

Test Validity, Content Validity, Test Reliability, Internal Consistency, Factor Analysis, Confirmatory Factor Analysis, Item Response Theory.

Keywords

Child Psychopathology, Classical Test Theory, Emotional Regulation, Irritability, Child Characteristics, Parent Report, Psychodiagnostic Measures, Test Responsiveness, Mental Health Screening

Authors Including Author ORCID Identifier and Affiliation Email Addresses Correspondence Address

• Otto, Christiane: University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf

• Kaman, Anne: University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf

• Barkmann, Claus: University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf

• Döpfner, Manfred: University of Cologne

• Görtz-Dorten, Anja: University of Cologne

• Ginsberg, Claudia: University of Cologne

• Labarga, Sara Zaplana: University of Cologne

• Treier, Anne-Katrin: University of Cologne

• Roessner, Veit: TU Dresden

• Hanisch, Charlotte: University of Cologne

• Koelch, Michael: University of Ulm

• Banaschewski, Tobias: University of Heidelberg

• Ravens-Sieberer, Ulrike: University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf

  • Email: [email protected]

  • Correspondence Address: University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Research Unit Child Public Health, Martinistr. 52, Hamburg, Germany, 20246

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

• Permissions: May use for Research/Teaching.

• Fee: No

• Commercial: No

• Test Year: 2023

• Web Site: creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

References

Otto, C., Kaman, A., Barkmann, C., Döpfner, M., Görtz-Dorten, A., Ginsberg, C., Labarga, S. Z., Treier, A.-K., Roessner, V., Hanisch, C., Koelch, M., Banaschewski, T., & Ravens-Sieberer, U. (2023). The DADYS-Screen: Development and evaluation of a screening tool for affective dysregulation in children. Assessment, 30(4), 1080–1094. https://doi.org/10.1177/10731911221082709

Items of the DADYS-Screen

This measure includes 12 items. Item details are available in the source reference: 2023-69487-010, Table 2, Page 1087.

Items

1. Is easily annoyed by others.

2. Is often upset and offended.

3. Is often irritable or easily annoyed.

4. Demands must be met immediately—easily frustrated.

5. Responds angrily to limit-setting by adults.

6. Is impulsive.

7. Often loses temper.

8. Is prone to angry outbursts/tantrums easily.

9. Gets angry frequently.

10. Has strong or prolonged temper outbursts with loud scolding, screaming or crying several times a week.

11. Stays angry for a long time.

12. Exhibits wide mood swings (child’s emotional state is difficult to anticipate because she/he moves quickly from positive to negative moods).

Response Options

0 = not at all (true)
1 = somewhat (true)
2 = mostly (true)
3 = especially / very (true)