[An inventory for assessing the quality of life of children and adolescents--a pilot study]

Up to now, the quality of life of children and adolescents with psychiatric disorders has rarely been investigated. Not many suitable instruments are available. A new one is the "Inventory for the Assessment of the Quality of Live in Children and Adolescents" presented here. Objectives and underlying conceptual assumptions are discussed, followed by an explanation of the instrument itself (questionnaires, rating scales, etc.). Finally, experiences with the application of the instrument are reported together with initial empirical results from a clinical sample and a sample of high school students. These indicate that the instrument usefully assesses clinically relevant information about the quality of life of the patients. A broader empirical analysis of this method is being prepared.