Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Assessing the Sensitivity and Specificity of the MAYSI-2 for Detecting Trauma among Youth in Juvenile Detention

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Child & Youth Care Forum Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study investigated the sensitivity and specificity of the most widely used mental health screening instrument in juvenile detention, the Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument (MAYSI-2), for detecting trauma and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among detained youth. The MAYSI-2 scales measuring Substance Use, Anger/Irritability, Depression/Anxiety, and Traumatic Experiences contributed to the prediction of PTSD symptoms; however, only Depression/Anxiety contributed to the prediction of associated symptoms for girls. The ROC curves technique indicated that the Traumatic Experiences scale was a moderately accurate predictor of likely Full or Partial PTSD but not superior to the other MAYSI-2 scales. These results suggest further work is needed to develop measures that are sensitive to the experiences of delinquent youth with histories of complex trauma.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abram, K. M., Teplin, L. A., Charles, D. R., Longworth, S. L., McClelland, G. M., & Dulcan, M. K. (2004). Posttraumatic stress disorder and trauma in youth in juvenile detention. Archives of General Psychiatry, 61, 403–410.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Achenbach, T. M., & Edelbrock, C. (1991). Manual for the Youth Self-Report and Profile. Burlington, VT: University of Vermont, Department of Psychiatry.

  • Acoca, L. (1999). Investing in girls: A 21st century strategy. Juvenile Justice, 6, 2–21.

    Google Scholar 

  • American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th Ed., text revision). Washington, DC: Author.

  • Antonishak, J., Reppucci, N. D., & Mulford, C. F. (2004). Girls in the justice system: Treatment and intervention. In M. M. Moretti, C. L. Odgers, & M. A. Jackson (Eds.), Girls and aggression: Contributing factors and intervention principles (pp. 165–180). New York: Kluwer.

  • Bailey, B. N., Delaney-Black, V., Hannigan, J. H., Ager, J., Sokol, R. J., & Covington, C. Y. (2005). Somatic complaints in children and community violence exposure. Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 26, 341–348.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Belknap, J., & Holsinger, K. (2006). The gendered nature of risk factors for delinquency. Feminist Criminology, 1, 48–71.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blake, D. D., Weathers, F. W., Nagy, L. M., Kaloupek, D. G., Gusman, F. D., Charney, D. S., et al. (1995). The development of a clinician-administered PTSD scale. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 8, 75–90.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bloom, B., Owen, B., Deschenes, E. P., & Rosenbaum, J. (2002). Moving toward justice for female juvenile offenders. Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice, 18, 37–56.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Briere, J., & Scott, C. (2006). Principles of trauma therapy. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Briere, J., & Spinazzola, J. (2009). Standardized assessment of complex posttraumatic disturbance in childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. In C. Courtois & J. Ford (Eds.), Complex traumatic stress disorders: An evidence-based clinician’s guide. New York: Guilford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cauffman, E. (2004). A state-wide screening of mental health symptoms among juvenile offenders in detention. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 43, 430–439.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cauffman, E., Feldman, S., Waterman, J., & Steiner, H. (1998). Posttraumatic stress disorder among female juvenile offenders. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 37, 11–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cauffman, E., & MacIntosh, R. (2008). The measurement validity of the Massachusetts youth screening instrument (MAYSI-2): An assessment of race and gender item bias among juvenile offenders. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 66, 502–521.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cernkovich, S. A., Lanctôt, N., & Giordano, P. C. (2008). Predicting adolescent and adult antisocial behavior among adjudicated delinquent females. Crime and Delinquency, 54, 3–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chamberlain, P., & Moore, K. J. (2002). Chaos and trauma in the lives of adolescent females with antisocial behavior and delinquency. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment, Trauma, 6, 79–108.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cook, A., Spinazzola, J., Ford, J., Lanktree, C., Blaustein, M., Cloitre, M., et al. (2005). Complex trauma in children and adolescents. Psychiatric Annals, 35, 390–398.

    Google Scholar 

  • Darves-Bornoz, J.-M., Choquet, M., Ledoux, S., Gasquet, I., & Manfredi, R. (1998). Gender differences in symptoms of adolescents reporting sexual assault. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 33, 111–117.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dembo, R., Pacheco, K., Schmeidler, J., Ramirez, G., Guida, J., & Rahman, A. (1998). A further study of gender differences in service needs among youths entering a juvenile assessment center. Journal of Child & Adolescent Substance Abuse, 7, 49–77.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dembo, R., Schmeidler, J., & Childs, K. (2007). Correlates of male and female juvenile offender abuse experiences. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 16, 75–94.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dixon, A., Howie, P., & Starling, J. (2005). Trauma exposure, posttraumatic stress, and psychiatric comorbidity in female juvenile offenders. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 44, 798–806.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Egeland, B., Yates, T., Appleyard, K., & van Dulmen, M. (2002). The long term consequences of maltreatment in the early years: A developmental pathway model to antisocial behavior. Social Policy, Research, and Practice, 5, 249–260.

    Google Scholar 

  • Feiring, C., Miller-Johnson, S., & Cleland, C. M. (2007). Potential pathways from stigmatization and internalizing symptoms to delinquency in sexually abused youth. Child Maltreatment, 12, 220–232.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ford, J. D. (2002). Traumatic victimization in childhood and persistent problems with oppositional-defiance. In R. Greenwald (Ed.), Trauma and juvenile delinquency (pp. 25–58). Binghamton, NY: Haworth.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ford, J. D. (2005). Treatment implications of altered affect regulation and information processing following child maltreatment. Psychiatric Annals, 35, 410–419.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ford, J. D., Chapman, J., Mack, M., & Pearson, G. (2006). Pathways from traumatic child victimization to delinquency: Implications for juvenile and permanency court proceedings and decisions. Juvenile and Family Court Journal, 13–26.

  • Ford, J. D., Chapman, J. F., Pearson, G., Borum, R., & Wolpaw, J. M. (2008a). Psychometric status and clinical utility of the MAYSI-2 with girls and boys in juvenile detention. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 30, 87–99.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ford, J. D., & Courtois, C. A. (2009). Defining and understanding complex trauma and complex traumatic stress disorders. In C. A. Courtois & J. D. Ford (Eds.), Treating complex traumatic stress disorders: An evidence-based guide. New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ford, J. D., Hartman, J. K., Hawke, J., & Chapman, J. F. (2008b). Traumatic victimization, posttraumatic stress disorder, suicidal ideation, and substance abuse risk among juvenile justice-involved youth. Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma, 1, 75–92.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goldstein, N., Arnold, D., Weil, J., Mesiarik, C., Peuschold, D., Grisso, T., et al. (2003). Comorbid symptom patterns in female juvenile offenders. International Journal of Law and Psychiatry, 26, 565–582.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Greenwald, R. (2002). The role of trauma in conduct disorder. In R. Greenwald (Ed.), Trauma and juvenile delinquency (pp. 5–23). Binghamton, NY: Haworth.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grisso, T., & Barnum, R. (2006). Massachusetts youth screening instrument version 2: User’s manual and technical report. Sarasota, FL: Professional Resource Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grisso, T., & Quinlan, J. C. (2005). Massachusetts youth screening instrument–version 2. In T. Grisso, G. Vincent, & D. Seagrave (Eds.), Mental health screening and assessment in juvenile justice (pp. 99–111). New York: Guilford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Herman, J. L. (1992). Sequelae of prolonged and repeated trauma: Evidence for a complex posttraumatic syndrome. In J. R. T. Davidson & E. B. Foa (Eds.), Posttraumatic stress disorder: DSM-IV and beyond (pp. 213–228). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hilker, K. A., Murphy, M. A., & Kelley, M. L. (2005). Violence exposure, somatic complaints, and health care utilization in a pediatric sample. Children’s Health Care, 34, 35–46.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hill, H., & Jones, L. P. (1997). Children's and parents' perceptions of children's exposure to violence in urban neighborhoods. Journal of the National Medical Association, 89, 270–276.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Johansson, P., & Kempf-Leonard, K. (2009). A gender-specific pathway to serious, violent, and chronic offending? Crime and Delinquency, 55, 216–240.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kerig, P. K., & Becker, S. P. (2010). From internalizing to externalizing: Theoretical models of the processes linking PTSD to juvenile delinquency. In S. J. Egan (Ed.), Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): Causes, symptoms and treatment. Hauppauge, NY: Nova Science Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kerig, P. K., & Becker, S. P. (in press). Trauma and girls’ delinquency. In S. Miller, L. Leve, & P. K. Kerig (Eds.), Girls’ delinquency. New York: Springer Books.

  • Kerig, P. K., Ward, R. M., Vanderzee, K. L., & Arnzen Moeddel, M. (2009). Posttraumatic stress as a mediator of the relationship between trauma and mental health problems among juvenile delinquents. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 38, 1214–1225.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lansford, J. E., Miller-Johnson, S., Berlin, L. J., Dodge, K. A., Bates, J. E., & Pettit, G. S. (2007). Early physical abuse and later violent delinquency: A prospective longitudinal study. Child Maltreatment, 12, 233–245.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lasko, T. A., Bhagwat, J. G., Zou, K. H., & Ohno-Machado, L. (2005). The use of receiver operating characteristics curves in biomedical informatics. Journal of Biomedical Information, 38, 404–415.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lawyer, S. R., Ruggiero, K. J., Resnick, H. S., Kilpatrick, D. G., & Saunders, B. E. (2006). Mental health correlates of the victim-perpetrator relationship among interpersonally victimized adolescents. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 21, 1333–1353.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leve, L. D., & Chamberlain, P. (2005). Girls in the juvenile justice system: Risk factors and clinical implications. In D. J. Pepler, K. C. Madsen, C. D. Webster, & K. S. Levene (Eds.), The development and treatment of girlhood aggression (pp. 191–216). Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leve, L. D., Chamberlain, P., Smith, D. K., & Harold, G. T. (in press). Multidimensional treatment foster care as an intervention for juvenile justice girls in out of home care. In S. Miller, L. Leve, & P. K. Kerig (Eds.), Girls’ delinquency. New York: Springer Books.

  • Littleton, H. L., Axsom, D., Breitkopf, C. R., & Berenson, A. (2007). Rape acknowledgement and postassault experiences: How acknowledgement status relates to disclosure, coping, worldview, and reactions received from others. Violence and Victims, 21, 761–778.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maney, S. M., & Grisso, T. (2006). MAYSIWARE user’s guide. Sarasota, FL: Professional Resource Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin, D., Martin, M., Dell, R., Davis, C., & Guerrieri, K. (2008). Profile of incarcerated juveniles: Comparison of male and female offenders. Adolescence, 43, 607–622.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McCabe, K. M., Lansing, A. E., Garland, A., & Hough, R. (2002). Gender differences in psychopathology, functional impairment, and familial risk factors among adjudicated delinquents. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 47, 860–868.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Millon, T. (1993). Millon adolescent clinical inventory: Manual. Minneapolis, MN: NCS.

    Google Scholar 

  • Newman, E. (2002). Assessment of PTSD and trauma exposure in adolescents. In R. Greenwald (Ed.), Trauma and juvenile delinquency (pp. 59–78). Binghamton, NY: Hawthorn Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Newman, E., Weathers, F. W., Nader, K. O., Kaloupek, D. G., Pynoos, R. S., Blake, D. D., et al. (2004). Clinician administered PTSD scale for children and adolescents for DSM-IV (CAPS-CA). Los Angeles: Western Psychological Services.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pat-Horenczyk, R., Abramovitz, R., Peled, O., Brom, D., Daie, A., & Chemtob, C. M. (2007). Adolescent exposure to recurrent terrorism in Israel: Posttraumatic distress and functional impairment. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 77, 76–85.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pelcovitz, D., van der Kolk, B. A., Herman, S., Roth, S., Kaplan, S., et al. (2004). Structured Interview for Disorders of Extreme Stress-NOS Adolescent Version (SIDES-A). Unpublished measure, New York University School of Medicine.

  • Putnam, F. W. (2006). Dissociative disorders. In D. Cicchetti & D. J. Cohen (Eds.), Developmental psychopathology. Volume III: Risk, disorder and adaptation (2nd ed., pp. 657–695). New York: Wiley.

  • Pynoos, R., Rodriguez, N., Steinberg, A., & Stuber, M. (1998). UCLA PTSD index for DSM-IV (Revision 1). Los Angeles, CA: University of California at Los Angeles.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rodriguez, N., Steinberg, A., & Pynoos, R. S. (1999). UCLA PTSD Index for DSM-IV (Revision 1) Instrument information: Child version, parent version, adolescent version. Los Angeles: University of California Los Angeles Trauma Psychiatry Service.

  • Steinberg, A. M., Brymer, M. J., Decker, K. B., & Pynoos, R. S. (2004). The university of California at Los Angeles posttraumatic stress disorder reaction index. Current Psychiatry Reports, 6, 96–100.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Steiner, H., Garcia, I., & Matthews, Z. (1997). Posttraumatic stress disorder in incarcerated juvenile delinquents. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 36, 357–365.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stewart, A., Livingston, M., & Dennison, S. (2008). Transitions and turning points: Examining the links between child maltreatment and juvenile offending. Child Abuse and Neglect, 32, 51–66.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Streiner, D. L., & Cairney, J. (2007). What’s under the ROC? An introduction to receiver operating characteristic curves. The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 52, 121–128.

    Google Scholar 

  • Terr, L. C. (1991). Childhood traumas: An outline and overview. American Journal of Psychiatry, 148, 10–20.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Timmons-Mitchell, J., Brown, C. S., Schulz, S. C., Webster, S. E., Underwood, L. A., & Semple, W. E. (1997). Comparing the mental health needs of female and male incarcerated juvenile delinquents. Behavioral Sciences and the Law, 15, 195–202.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tolin, D. F., & Foa, E. B. (2006). Sex differences in trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder: A quantitative review of 25 years of research. Psychological Bulletin, 132, 959–992.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tyler, K. A., Johnson, K. A., & Brownridge, D. A. (2008). A longitudinal study of the effects of child maltreatment on later outcomes among high-risk adolescents. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 37, 506–521.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van der Kolk, B. A., Roth, S., Pelcovitz, D., Sunday, S., & Spinazzola, J. (2005). Disorders of extreme stress: The empirical foundation of a complex adaptation to trauma. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 18, 389–399.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wareham, J., & Dembo, R. (2007). A longitudinal study of psychological functioning among juvenile offenders: A latent growth model analysis. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 34, 259–273.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wasserman, G. A., McReyolds, L. S., Ko, S., Katz, L., & Carpenter, J. (2005). Gender differences in psychiatric disorders at juvenile probation intake. American Journal of Public Health, 95, 131–137.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Widom, C. S., Schuck, A. M., & White, H. R. (2006). An examination of pathways from childhood victimization to violence: The role of early aggression and problematic alcohol use. Violence and Victims, 21, 675–690.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wolpaw, J. M., & Ford, J. D. (2004). Assessing exposure to psychological trauma in the juvenile justice population. Retrieved 5/22/08 from www.nctsnet.org/nctsn_assets/pdfs/edu_materials/assessing_trauma_in_jj_population.pdf.

  • Wood, J., Foy, D. W., Layne, C., Pynoos, R., & James, C. B. (2002). An examination of the relationships between violence exposure, posttraumatic stress symptomology, and delinquent activity: An ecopathological model of delinquent behavior among incarcerated adolescents. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 6, 127–147.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA

    Patricia K. Kerig

  2. Department of Psychology, Miami Unviversity, Oxford, OH, 45056, USA

    Melissa Arnzen Moeddel & Stephen P. Becker

Authors
  1. Patricia K. Kerig
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Melissa Arnzen Moeddel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Stephen P. Becker
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Patricia K. Kerig.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kerig, P.K., Moeddel, M.A. & Becker, S.P. Assessing the Sensitivity and Specificity of the MAYSI-2 for Detecting Trauma among Youth in Juvenile Detention. Child Youth Care Forum 40, 345–362 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10566-010-9124-4

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10566-010-9124-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation