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Updated: Aug 5, 2026

Using the Threat Probability Task to Assess Anxiety and Fear During Uncertain and Certain Threat
Published on: September 12, 2014
Assessment issues in treatment research of pediatric anxiety disorders: what is working, what is not working, what is
L L Greenhill1, D Pine, J March
1Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
Abstract:
Reviewing the strengths and weaknesses of the rating scales for anxiety disorders makes it possible to select appropriate measures for use in a multisite treatment study of children and adolescents with DSM-IV-diagnosed anxiety disorders. Categorical diagnosis for study inclusion is provided by the K-SADS-PL, which has strong published psychometrics for anxiety disorders. Broadband symptom ratings of diverse pediatric psychiatric disorder can be obtained at baseline by the parent-scored Child Behavior Checklist. Anxiety symptom monitoring may be provided by the use of two psychometrically strong self-report measures, the MASC and the SCARED. Weekly global ratings are provided by the CGI whose scale points have been enhanced by detailed anchors; in addition, the raters all trained on practice vignettes to calibrate their scoring. Clinician-based ratings of the patient's anxiety symptoms can be carried out in adolescent patients using the HAM-A. The newly developed Children's Anxiety Rating Scale promises to cover the full pediatric age range as a clinician-based anxiety rating instrument, but must first be subjected to formal psychometric and treatment sensitivity evaluation.
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