Psychometric Properties of the K-SADS-P in an Israeli Adolescent Inpatient Population

Seventy adolescent admissions to a psychiatric unit were evaluated with a Hebrew translation of the Schedule for Affective-Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Aged Children (K-SADS-P). Interrater and test-retest reliability and mother–child agreement were evaluated for diagnoses, symptom clusters, and 20 affective symptoms. K-SADS diagnoses were also compared with 3-month unit evaluation diagnoses as a measure of consensual validity. The reliability of assessing psychosocial functioning was additionally examined. Reliability and validity of diagnoses were high and reliability of symptoms and syndromes was good to excellent. Mother–child agreement faired less well on all measures. The use of semistructured interviews and DSM-III criteria in an Israeli adolescent psychiatric setting are discussed.