Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 15, 2026
The Adventures of Fundi Intervention Based on the Cognitive and Emotional Processing in Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Patients
Published on: June 12, 2020
An item response analysis of the pediatric PROMIS anxiety and depressive symptoms scales
Debra E Irwin1, Brian Stucky, Michelle M Langer
1Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA. dirwin@email.unc.edu
Insights
The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) developed new anxiety and depressive symptom item banks for children aged 8-17. These validated tools offer efficient assessment of pediatric mental health-related quality of life.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Psychology
- Psychometric Measurement
- Health Outcomes Research
Background:
- The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) aims to create robust self-reported item banks for clinical research.
- PROMIS pediatric project focuses on developing item banks for children aged 8-17 across various health domains.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the psychometric properties of the anxiety and depressive symptom item banks for pediatric populations.
- To develop and calibrate PROMIS pediatric instruments for efficient health-related quality of life assessment.
Main Methods:
- Recruited 1,529 participants in school and clinic settings.
- Utilized hierarchical confirmatory factor-analytic models (CFA) and Item Response Theory (IRT) analyses.
- Administered anxiety (18 items) and depressive symptoms (21 items) across two test forms.
Main Results:
- CFA confirmed anxiety and depressive symptoms as distinct constructs representing negative affect.
- Items with local dependence and differential item functioning (DIF) were removed, resulting in 15 anxiety and 14 depressive symptom items.
- Presented psychometric differences between short forms and simulated computer adaptive tests.
Conclusions:
- Developed and calibrated PROMIS pediatric anxiety and depressive symptom item banks (version 1.0).
- These item banks provide efficient assessment of pediatric mental health-related quality of life.
- The study establishes validated instruments for measuring anxiety and depression in children.
Purpose:
The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) aims to develop self-reported item banks for clinical research. The PROMIS pediatrics (aged 8-17) project focuses on the development of item banks across several health domains (physical function, pain, fatigue, emotional distress, social role relationships, and asthma symptoms). The psychometric properties of the anxiety and depressive symptom item banks are described.
Methods:
Participants (n = 1,529) were recruited in public school settings, hospital-based outpatient and subspecialty pediatrics clinics. The anxiety (k = 18) and depressive symptoms (k = 21) items were split between two test administration forms. Hierarchical confirmatory factor-analytic models (CFA) were conducted to evaluate scale dimensionality and local dependence. IRT analyses were then used to finalize item banks and short forms.
Results:
CFA results confirmed that anxiety and depressive symptoms are separate constructs and indicative of negative affect. Items with local dependence and DIF were removed resulting in 15 anxiety and 14 depressive symptoms items. The psychometric differences between short forms and simulated computer adaptive tests are presented.
Conclusions:
PROMIS pediatric item banks were developed to provide efficient assessment of health-related quality of life domains. This sample provides initial calibrations of anxiety and depressive symptoms item banks and creates PROMIS pediatric instruments, version 1.0.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Self-Report Tests of Personality
01:30Generalized Anxiety Disorder