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The Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Assessment (CAPA)
1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA. adrian.angold@duke.edu
Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
|January 19, 2000
Summary
The Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Assessment (CAPA) is a reliable interview tool for diagnosing child psychiatric disorders. It demonstrates good validity and reliability, with various versions available for different research and clinical needs.
Area of Science:
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- Psychometric Assessment
- Clinical Interviewing
Background:
- Accurate psychiatric assessment is crucial for effective treatment in children and adolescents.
- Standardized interviews improve diagnostic consistency and research reliability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Assessment (CAPA) interview.
- To present its psychometric properties and adaptations.
Main Methods:
- The Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Assessment (CAPA) is a structured interview.
- It includes a glossary with operational definitions for symptoms and severity.
- Psychometric data and interview developments are presented.
Main Results:
- The CAPA is a comprehensive interview, averaging 59-66 minutes.
- It shows good test-retest reliability (kappa = 0.55–1.0) and validity.
- Adaptations include shorter, Spanish, twin, young adult (YAPA), and preschool (PAPA) versions.
Conclusions:
- The CAPA is a valuable tool for both research and clinical settings.
- Its operationalized approach ensures clarity in questioning and symptom severity assessment.
- The CAPA's reliability and validity support its use in child psychiatric evaluations.