Brief Adolescent Depression Screen (BADS)

Abstract

The Brief Adolescent Depression Screen (BADS), introduced by Vaughan et al. (2023), is a concise, interview-based instrument designed for the rapid identification of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD) in adolescent populations within an inpatient psychiatric setting. The BADS functions as a critical component of a broader, comprehensive screening interview aimed at diagnosing multiple mental health disorders.

Comprising only five items, the BADS features a single stem question followed by four probing questions that assess the onset, consistency, and duration of depressive symptomatology, particularly focusing on the individual’s experience over the preceding two weeks. Clinicians estimate the administration time to be exceptionally brief, approximately one minute. Initial validation, conducted on adolescents hospitalized in the southeastern United States, confirmed its utility by demonstrating strong incremental validity, as well as high test sensitivity and specificity, especially concerning the identification of full depressive diagnoses and a history of suicidal behavior.

Keywords

Adolescent Depression Screening, Major Depressive Disorder, Persistent Depressive Disorder, Inpatient Assessment, Incremental Validity, Test Sensitivity, Suicidal Behavior, Youth Mental Health.

Authors

Vaughan, Erin P., Kemp, Emily C., Robertson, Emily L., Walker, Toni M., Picou, Paige, Frick, Paul J., de Back Jr., John.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the Brief Adolescent Depression Screen (BADS) is to serve as a high-utility, time-efficient screening measure for the identification of significant depressive disorders in adolescents admitted to an inpatient psychiatric unit. Its brevity is specifically tailored to meet the demanding assessment needs of fast-paced clinical inpatient environments.

Construct

The BADS measures the presence and consistency of core depressive symptoms indicative of clinical depression, specifically aligning with criteria for Major Depressive Disorder and Persistent Depressive Disorder. By focusing on symptom presentation, onset, and duration (over the preceding two weeks), the instrument aims to capture clinically significant distress requiring immediate intervention in a hospitalized population.

Validity

The BADS has demonstrated significant psychometric utility, particularly concerning its ability to enhance diagnostic accuracy beyond existing measures.

Incremental Validity: The BADS exhibited strong incremental validity when compared to the Behavior Assessment System for Children: 3rd Edition (BASC). Even after statistically controlling for the variance accounted for by the BASC, the BADS maintained statistically significant associations with key measured outcomes. This indicates that the BADS provides substantial additional value in accurately identifying diagnoses derived from the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia: Present Lifetime Version (KSADS), as well as predicting a history of suicidal behavior.

Test Sensitivity and Specificity: The measure proved to have robust screening utility, characterized by both high sensitivity and specificity. These strong statistical metrics confirm its effectiveness in accurately differentiating between adolescents with and without full depressive diagnoses, and those with a positive history of suicidal behavior.

Reliability

No reliability data is Available for the Brief Adolescent Depression Screen (BADS) in the initial validation study.

Factor Analysis

No factor analysis data is Available regarding the underlying structure of the Brief Adolescent Depression Screen (BADS).

Instrument

Test Type: Screening measure for depressive disorders, including Major Depressive Disorder and Persistent Depressive Disorder.

Format: The BADS is a brief, 5-item scale administered via structured interview. The response format for most items utilizes open-ended options. The estimated administration time is approximately one minute. Specific test items are not publicly available in the source documentation.

Language Available: English.

Population Group: Human (Male and Female) adolescents who are admitted inpatients in a psychiatric setting.

Age Group: The instrument is designed for use across childhood (birth–12 yrs), school age (6–12 yrs), and adolescence (13–17 yrs).

Population Details: The validation sample consisted of adolescents hospitalized in an inpatient psychiatric unit located in the southeastern United States.

Test Methodology: The validation methodology focused on assessing the scale’s incremental validity, test sensitivity, and test specificity relative to established diagnostic interviews (KSADS) and behavioral screening tools (BASC).

Keywords

Brief Screening Tool, Inpatient Psychiatry, Adolescent Mental Health, Depressive Disorders, BASC, KSADS, Screening Utility.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifiers:

• Vaughan, Erin P.: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3316-2941

• Kemp, Emily C.: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2008-7938

Affiliation Email addresses:

• Vaughan, Erin P.: Louisiana State University, Department of Psychology. Email: [email protected]

• Kemp, Emily C.: Louisiana State University, Department of Psychology. Email: No data is Available

• Robertson, Emily L.: Florida International University, Center for Children and Families. Email: No data is Available

• Walker, Toni M.: Harris County Juvenile Probation Department. Email: No data is Available

• Picou, Paige: Louisiana State University, Department of Psychology. Email: No data is Available

• Frick, Paul J.: Louisiana State University, Department of Psychology. Email: No data is Available

• de Back Jr., John: Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center. Email: No data is Available

Correspondence Address:

Vaughan, Erin P.: Louisiana State University, Department of Psychology, 236 Audubon Hall, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States, 70803. Email: [email protected]

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

Permissions: Contact the Corresponding Author (Erin P. Vaughan).

Fee: No fee is required for the use of the scale.

Test Year: 2023.

References

Vaughan, E. P., Kemp, E. C., Robertson, E. L., Walker, T. M., Picou, P., Frick, P. J., & de Back, J., Jr. (2023). The Brief Adolescent Depression Screen: A brief screening tool for depression and suicidal behavior in inpatient adolescents. Child & Youth Care Forum, 52(6), 1397–1412. doi: 10.1007/s10566-023-09738-9

Items of the Brief Adolescent Depression Screen (BADS)

IMPORTANT: The following scale items must be preserved in their original language and must not be changed in any way.

The BADS comprises a total of 5 items. It starts with one screen or stem question, followed by three questions that assess the onset and consistency of depressive symptoms. An additional question specifically asks the individual about how consistently they felt depressed over the last two weeks. The specific wording or content of these items is not mentioned in the provided text.