Skip to main content

Current Issues and Future Directions in Mental Health Screening

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Mental Health Screening at School

Part of the book series: Contemporary Issues in Psychological Assessment ((CIPA))

  • 1167 Accesses

Abstract

This chapter summarizes important future directions for research and practice in child mental health screening in schools. Some areas discussed include: longitudinal studies of risk and outcomes over time, information on consequential validity, linking screening to intervention, cost/benefit analyses of screening, public perceptions of child mental health screening, and screening among culturally and linguistically diverse groups of students.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 44.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 59.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Achenbach, T. M. (1991). Integrative Guide to the 1991 CBCL/4-18, YSR, and TRF Profiles. Burlington: University of Vermont, Department of Psychology.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ahram, R., Fergus, E., & Noguera, P. (2011). Addressing racial/ethnic disproportionality in special education: Case studies of suburban school districts. Teachers College Record, 113(10), 2233–2266.

    Google Scholar 

  • American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • August, G. J., Ostrander, R., & Bloomquist, M. J. (1992). Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: Epidemiological screening method. American Journal of Orthopsychiatrics, 62, 387–396.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barlas, S. (2004). Illinois passes controversial child screening plan. Psychiatric Times, 21. http://www.psychiatrictimes.com/articles/illinois-passes-controversial-child-screening-plan. Accessed 26 June 2015.

  • Bryan, J., Day-Vines, N. L., Griffin, D., & Moore-Thomas, C. (2012). The disproportionality dilemma: Patterns of teacher referrals to school counselors for disruptive behavior. Journal of Counseling and Development, 90(2), 177–190.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Christenson, S., Ysseldyke, J. E., Wang, J. J., & Algozzine, B. (1983). Teachers’ attributions for problems that result in referral for psychoeducational evaluation. The Journal of Educational Research, 76, 174–180.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coutinho, M. J., & Oswald, D. P. (2005). State variation in gender disproportionality in special education findings and recommendations. Remedial and Special Education, 26(1), 7–15.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dever, B. V., Raines, T. C., & Barclay, C. M. (2012). Chasing the unicorn: Practical implementation of universal screening for behavioral and emotional risk. School Psychology Forum, 6(4), 108–118.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dever, B. V., Dowdy, E., Raines, T. C., & Carnazzo, K. (In Press). Stability and change of behavioral and emotional screening scores. Psychology in the Schools.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dowdy, E., Dever, B. V., DiStefano, C., & Chin, J. (2011). Screening for emotional and behavioral risk among students with limited English proficiency. School Psychology Quarterly, 26, 14–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dowdy, E., Kamphaus, R. W., Twyford, J., & Dever, B. V. (2014a). Culturally competent screening approaches and treatments. In M. Weist, N. Lever, C. Bradshaw, & J. Owens (Eds). Handbook of School Mental Health (2nd ed.). New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dowdy, E., Nylund-Gibson, K., Felix, E., Morovati, D., Carnazzo, K., & Dever, B. V. (2014b). Long-term stability of screening for behavioral and emotional risk. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 74(3), 453–472. doi:10.1177/0013164413513460.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Essex, M. J., Kraemer, H. C., Slattery, M. J., Burk, L. R., Boyce, W. T., Woodward, H. R., & Kupfer, D. J. (2009). Screening for childhood mental health problems: Outcomes and early identification. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 50(5), 562–570.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Flanagan, K. S., Bierman, K. L., & Kam, C. M. (2003). Identifying at-risk children at school entry: the usefulness of multibehavioral problem profiles. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 32, 396–407.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gardner, N. (2011). Potentials and impediments to universal, school-based screening for behavioral and emotional risk: A critical discourse analysis of current case law. (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Glover, T. A., & Albers, C. A. (2007). Considerations for evaluating universal screening assessments. Journal of School Psychology, 45(2), 117–135.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goodman, R., Ford, T., Simmons, H., Gatward, R., & Meltzer, H. (2003). Using the strengths and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ) to screen for child psychiatric disorders in a community sample. International Review of Psychiatry, 15, 166–172.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gould, M. S., Marrocco, F. A., Kleinman, M., Thomas, J. G., Mostkoff, K., Cote, J., & Davies, M. (2005). Evaluating iatrogenic risk of youth suicide screening programs. Journal of the American Medical Association, 293, 1635–1643.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Greer, F. W., Wilson, B. S., DiStefano, C., & Liu, J. (2012). Considering social validity in the context of emotional and behavioral screening. School Psychology Forum, 6(4), 148–159.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gross, D., Fogg, L., Young, M., Ridge, A., Cowell, J. M., Richardson, R., & Sivan, A. (2006). The equivalence of the Child Behavior Checklist/1 1/2–5 across parent race/ethnicity, income level, and language. Psychological Assessment, 18(3), 313–323.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hosp, J. L., & Reschly, D. J. (2003). Referral rates for intervention or assessment a meta-analysis of racial differences. The Journal of Special Education, 37(2), 67–80.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hosp, J. L., & Reschly, D. J. (2004). Disproportionate representation of minority students in special education: Academic, demographic, and economic predictors. Exceptional Children, 70(2), 185–199.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jasper, A. D., & Bouck, E. C. (2013). Disproportionality among African American students at the secondary level: Examining the MID disability category. Education and Training in Autism and Developmental Disabilities, 48(1), 31–40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kamphaus, R. W., & Frick, P. J. (2002). Clinical assessment of child and adolescent personality and behavior (2nd ed.). Boston: Allyn & Bacon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelleher, K. J., Moore, C. D., Childs, G. E., Angelilli, M. L., & Comer, D. M. (1999). Patient race and ethnicity in primary care management of child behavior problems. Medical Care, 37, 1092–1104.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, S., & Rowe, E. (2004, April). Similar risks, dissimilar outcomes: Rethinking risk in educational context. Paper presented at the annual conference of the American Educational Research Association, San Diego, CA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kobak, K. A., Taylor, L. vH., Dottl, S. L., Greist, J. H., Jefferson, J. W., Burroughs, D., Katzelnick, D. J., & Mandell, M. (1997). Computerized screening for psychiatric disorders in an outpatient community mental health clinic. Psychiatric Services, 48, 1048–1057.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lane, K. L., Kalberg, J. R., Bruhn, A. L., Driscoll, S. A., Wehby, J. H., & Elliott, S. N. (2009). Assessing social validity of school-wide positive behavior support plans: Evidence for the reliability and structure of the primary intervention rating scale. School Psychology Reviewer, 38, 135–144

    Google Scholar 

  • Leon, A. C., Kathol, R., Portera, L., Farber, L., Olfson, M., Lowell, K. N., & Sheehan, D. V. (1999). Diagnostic errors of primary care screens for depression and panic disorder. International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine, 29, 1–11.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levitt, J. M., Saka, N., Romanelli, L. H., & Hoagwood, K. (2007). Early identification of mental health problems in schools: The status of instrumentation. Journal of School Psychology, 45, 163–191.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Loeber, R., Green, S. M., & Lahey, B. B. (1990). Mental health professionals’ perceptions of the utility of children, mothers, and teachers as informants on childhood psychopathology. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 19, 136–143.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Loeber, R., Green, S. M., Lahey, B. B., Stouthamer-Loeber, M. (1991). Differences and similarities between children, mothers, and teachers as informants on disruptive child behavior. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 19, 75–95.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • MacMillan, D. L., & Reschly, D. J. (1998). Overrepresentation of minority students the case for greater specificity or reconsideration of the variables examined. The Journal of Special Education, 32(1), 15–24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McFall, R. M. (2005). Theory and utility—key themes in evidence-based assessment: Comment on the special section. Psychological Assessment, 17, 312–323.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McGrew, K. S., & Woodcock, R. W. (2001). Technical manual. Woodcock-Johnson III. Itasca: Riverside Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meehl, P. E. (1992). Factors and taxa, traits and types, differences of degree and differences in kind. Journal of Personality, 60(1), 117–174.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meehl, P. E., & Rosen, A. (1955). Antecedent probability and the efficiency of psychometric signs, patterns, or cutting scores. Psychological Bulletin, 52, 194–216.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Merrell, K. W., McClun, L. A., Kempf, K. G., & Lund, J. (2002). Using self-report assessment to identify children with internalizing problems: Validity of the internalizing symptoms scale for children. Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment, 20(3), 223–239.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pagano, M. E., Cassidy, L. J., Little, M., Murphy, J. M., & Jellinek, M. S. (2000). Identifying psychosocial dysfunction in school aged children: The Pediatric Symptom Checklist as a self-report measure. Psychology in the Schools, 37, 91–106.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parisi, D. M., Ihlo, T., & Glover, T. A. (2014). Screening within a multitiered early prevention model: Using assessment to inform instruction and promote students’ response to intervention. In R. J. Kettler, T. A. Glover, C. A. Albers, & K. A. Feeney-Kettler (Eds.), Universal screening in educational settings: Evidence-based decision making for schools (pp. 19–46). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Raines, T. C. (2011). Screening as the great equalizer: Eliminating disproportionality in special education referrals. (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Saunders, S. M. & Wojcik, J. V. (2004). The reliability and validity of a brief self-report questionnaire to screen for mental health problems: the health dynamics inventory. Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings, 11, 233–241.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt, N. B., Kotov, R., & Joiner, T. E. (2004). Taxometrics: Toward a new diagnostic scheme for psychopathology. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Schmitz, N., Kruse, J., Heckrath, C., Alberti, L., & Tress, W. (1999). Diagnosing mental disorders in primary care: the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) and the Symptom Check List (SCL-90-R) as screening instruments. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 34, 360–367.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Simonian, S. J., & Tarnowski, K. J. (2001). Utility of the pediatric symptom checklist for behavioral screening of disadvantaged children. Child Psychiatry and Human Development, 31, 269–278.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Skiba, R. J., Simmons, A. B., Ritter, S., Gibb, A. C., Rausch, M. K., Cuadrado, J., & Chung, C. (2008). Achieving equity in special education: History, status, and current challenges. Exceptional Children, 74(3), 264–288.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, S. R. (2007). Making sense of multiple informants in child and adolescent psychopathology: A guide for clinicians. Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment, 25, 139–149.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tarnopolsky, A., Hand, D. J., McLean, E. K., Roberts, H., & Wiggins, R. D. (1979). Validity and uses of a screening questionnaire (GHQ) in the community. British Journal of Psychiatry, 134, 508–515.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • VanDeventer, M. C. (2008). Universal emotional and behavioral screening for children and adolescents. Unpublished doctoral dissertation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vannest, K. J. (2012). Implementing interventions and progress monitoring subsequent to universal screening. School Psychology Forum, 6(4), 119–136.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vannest, K. J., Reynolds, C. R., & Kamphaus, R. W. (2008). BASC-2: Intervention guide. Circle Pines: Pearson.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walker, B. A. (2010). Effective schoolwide screening to identify students at risk for social and behavioral Problems. Intervention in School and Clinic, 46, 104–110.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walker, H. M., & McConnell, S. R. (1995). Walker-McConnell scale of social competence and school adjustment, elementary version: User’s manual. San Diego: Singular Publishing Group, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walker, H. M., & Severson, H. H. (1992). Systematic screening for behavior disorders (SSBD). Longmont: Sopris West.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walker, H. M., Small, J. W., Severson, H. H., Seeley, J. R., & Feil, E. G. (2014). Multiple-gating approaches in universal screening within school and community settings. In R. J. Kettler, T. A. Glover, C. A. Albers, & K. A. Feeney-Kettler (Eds.), Universal screening in educational settings: Evidence-based decision making for schools (pp. 47–75). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Wallace, J. M., Goodkind, S., Wallace, C. M., & Bachman, J. G. (2008). Racial, ethnic, and gender differences in school discipline among U.S. high school students: 1991–2005. Negro Education Review, 59(1–2), 47–62.

    Google Scholar 

  • Winter, L. B., Steer, R. A., Jones-Hicks, L., & Beck, A. T. (1999). Screening for major depression disorders in adolescent medical outpatients with the Beck Depression Inventory for primary care. Journal of Adolescent Health, 24, 389–394.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization. (1993). The ICD-10 classification of mental and behavioural disorders: Diagnostic criteria for research. World Health Organization. Geneva: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yates, T., Ostroskly, M. M., Cheatham, G. A., Fettig, A., Shaffer, L., & Santos, R. M. (2008). Research synthesis on screening and assessing social-emotional competence. The Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning. Retrieved from Vanderbilt.edu/csefel.

    Google Scholar 

  • Youngstrom, E., Loeber, R., & Stouthamer-Loeber, M. (2000). Patterns and correlates of agreement between parent, teacher, and male adolescent ratings of externalizing and internalizing problems. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 68, 1038–1050.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Meghan C. Stiffler .

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2015 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Stiffler, M., Dever, B. (2015). Current Issues and Future Directions in Mental Health Screening. In: Mental Health Screening at School. Contemporary Issues in Psychological Assessment. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-19171-3_8

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics