Assessment of psychological problems in children with chronic physical health conditions using DSM-oriented ASEBA scales: a meta-analysis

Chronic physical health conditions (CPHCs) increase the risk of mental health problems. The present meta-analysis integrates research of studies that compared DSM-oriented scores from the Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment (ASEBA) in young people with CPHCs and a control condition.

A systematic search in electronic databases (PsycInfo, Medline, Google Scholar, and PSYNDEX) identified 115 studies involving 12,958 children and adolescents with CPHCs and 24,638 control group members which were included in a hierarchical meta-analysis.

Elevated scores were found on all DSM-oriented scales, with the highest effect sizes observed for Somatic Problems (g = 0.66 standard deviation units, confidence interval [CI] 0.56 to 0.75) and Affective Problems (g = 0.61, CI 0.53 to 0.69). Between 8.6% (Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Problems) and 14.3% (Affective Problems) of the young people with CPHCs scored in the clinical range. Effect sizes were larger if parent ratings rather than adolescent or teacher ratings were used, in the case of direct neurological involvement and of shorter duration of the CPHCs, in older samples, and when test norms rather than healthy comparison groups were used.

We conclude that the ASEBA is a recommended screening tool for children with CPHCs but more direct comparisons of results from the DSM-based scales and the empirically derived ASEBA scales are needed to inform the choice of the scales.

https://osf.io/nfvdj.