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The Reliability and Validity of the Dominic Interactive: A Computerized Child Report Instrument for Mental Health Problems

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Abstract

Background

Children and youths’ self-report of mental health problems is considered essential but complicated.

Objective

This study examines the psychometric properties of the Dominic Interactive, a computerized DSM-IV based self-report questionnaire and explores informant correspondence.

Methods

The Dominic Interactive was administered to 214 Dutch children, 6–11 year old, 122 attended special education schools and 92 children attended public schools. Within 2 weeks 155 children were reassessed. Parents of 211 children completed a paper version of the Dominic Interactive.

Results

The findings showed moderate to good internal consistency and test-retest reliability, although stability increased with age. Factor structure concerning generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder displayed ambiguous results. Comparing special education with public school children revealed that both parents and children in special education reported significantly more problems on almost all scales. The results on informant correspondence revealed that discrepancies in reports were not consistent across individual pairs; they were due to a few extreme cases. Eliminating these cases increased the agreement in reports.

Conclusions

Although more research is needed to determine the value of the Dominic Interactive, the Dominic Interactive has the potential to contribute with its unique features to the existing self-report instruments for screening and assessing child mental health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, P.O. Box 9104, 6500 HE, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    Rowella C. W. M. Kuijpers, Roy Otten, Nicole P. C. M. Krol, Ad A. Vermulst & Rutger C. M. E. Engels

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Correspondence to Rowella C. W. M. Kuijpers.

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Kuijpers, R.C.W.M., Otten, R., Krol, N.P.C.M. et al. The Reliability and Validity of the Dominic Interactive: A Computerized Child Report Instrument for Mental Health Problems. Child Youth Care Forum 42, 35–52 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10566-012-9185-7

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