Age Differences in the Reliability of Parent and Child Reports of Child Anxious Symptomatology Using a Structured Interview

Test-retest reliability of child and parent reports of anxious symptomatology, using a structured interview (The Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule for Children; ADIS-C and ADIS-P), was examined with 50 outpatients and their parents. The test-retest was 10 to 14 days. Reliability was examined for three parameters: (1) an exact match on primary anxiety diagnoses; (2) symptom scale scores; and (3) clinician's agreement on severity ratings. Overall, satisfactory reliability across the three parameters was found. The results were viewed to be promising in light of previous research that parents and children tend to be unreliable in making such reports. Age differences in reliability were also examined between children 6 to 11 and 12 to 17 years old. Discrepancies between parent and child reports and age differences between samples (i.e., 6-11, 12-17) are discussed.