The relative value of screening instruments in adolescence

The phase of development that equips a child to become an adult is a period of transition. To date no instrument has become established as the routine screening measure for this age group in the same way as the Rutter B2 Scale has in children. During a major population study of adolescent functioning, the pupils drawn from four comprehensive schools were used to compare the validity of several screening measures in this age group. The results show that screen instruments tend to be behaviour specific and that antisocial and neurotic behaviour are relatively sex specific. The Rutter Malaise Inventory had the highest correlation with the psychiatrist's diagnosis of neurotic disorder, although the General Health Questionnaire also proved to be reasonably efficient. The antisocial subscale of the Rutter B2 Scale showed the best correlation with the psychiatrist's diagnosis of conduct disorder.