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PATHOS: a screening instrument for adolescent overdose: a research note
1Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Health Centre, Hertfordshire, U.K.
Summary
The five-question screening instrument, PATHOS, effectively identifies adolescents at high risk for overdose. This tool shows strong correlations with depression, hopelessness, and suicidal intent, aiding non-psychiatric assessors.
Area of Science:
- Adolescent Medicine
- Psychiatry
- Public Health
Background:
- Adolescent overdose is a significant public health concern.
- Previous research developed the five-question screening instrument, PATHOS, to identify high-risk adolescents.
- The need for validated screening tools in clinical settings is critical.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the concurrent validity of the PATHOS screening instrument.
- To assess the correlation of PATHOS with measures of depression, hopelessness, premeditation, and suicidal intent in adolescents with overdose history.
- To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of PATHOS in identifying high-risk adolescent overdose cases.
Main Methods:
- A study involving adolescents presenting with overdose.
- Concurrent validity was assessed using measures of depression, hopelessness, premeditation, and suicidal intent.
- Analysis included correlations with problem duration and previous overdose history.
Main Results:
- The PATHOS instrument demonstrated strong correlations with depression, hopelessness, premeditation, suicidal intent, problem duration, and previous overdose history.
- PATHOS achieved 100% sensitivity in identifying the high-risk group.
- Specificity was 57%, with all misclassifications being false positives.
Conclusions:
- The PATHOS screening instrument is a valid tool for identifying high-risk adolescents following an overdose.
- Its strong correlations with key psychological factors support its utility.
- PATHOS can serve as a valuable aid for non-psychiatric assessors in clinical practice.