Validity of the PAS-ADD for detecting psychiatric symptoms in adults with learning disability (mental retardation)

Abstract

The Psychiatric Assessment Schedule for Adults with Developmental Disability (PAS-ADD) is a semi-structured interview for use with respondents who have learning disability and for key informants. This report investigates the ability of the instrument to detect symptoms that had been found to exist during routine clinical assessment of the patients. Field trials involved 95 referred patients with learning disability and a key informant for each sample member. Clinical opinions of the referring psychiatrists were sought using a symptom checklist. Referrer checklist symptoms and PAS-ADD data were both factor analysed. Validity testing involved (a) computation of correlations between PAS-ADD factors and checklist data and (b) comparison of PAS-ADD and referrers' diagnoses. Results indicated good validity for the PAS-ADD in relation to psychotic symptoms and depressive symptoms. Anxiety symptom identification was not well validated, probably due to small numbers. Expansive mood identified by the referrers was not detected by the PAS-ADD because there is currently no corresponding section in the interview. Where the PAS-ADD produced a diagnosis (in 58 members of the sample), 44 were in agreement with the referrer. Probability of diagnosis by PAS-ADD increased with the number of relevant active symptoms identified by the referrer. The PAS-ADD has been shown in a previous report to have the sensitivity to detect mental disorders not known to psychiatric services. For psychotic and depressive conditions, our results showed that symptom detection was in good agreement with the information provided by the referring psychiatrists on their patients. The PAS-ADD needs a section on hypomania and further investigation of its detection of anxiety disorders.

The Effects of Traumatizing Life Events on People With Intellectual Disabilities: A Systematic Review

“…The measures used to measure the effects of traumatic events included the Developmental Behavior Checklist for Adults (DBC-A; Einfeld, Tonge, & Mohr, 2002;S13) Matson & Bamburg, 1998; S14); the Problem Behavior subsection of the Scales of Independent Behavior Revised (SIB-R; Bruininks, Woodcock, Weatherman, & Hill, 1996; S14); the PAS-ADD (Moss et al, 1997;S9); the PAS-ADD Checklist (Moss et al, 1998, S11, S12, and S7); the Anxiety, Depression and Mood Scale (ADAMS; Esbensen, Rojahn, Aman, & Ruedrich, 2003;S14); the Adaptive Behavior Schedule (Residential and Community; Nihira, Leland, & Lambert, 1993; S15); the Short Adaptive Behavior Scale (SABS; Hatton et al, 2001; S12); and the Prout-Strohmer Assessment System (PSAS; Strohmer & Prout, 1989;S8). In S2 the Mental Handicap Disability Assessment Scale (MHDAS; Colne, Shah, & Wing, 1982) was used.…”

Epidemiology of mental health problems in adults with learning disability: an update

“…The more recent Psychiatric Assessment Schedule for Adults with a Developmental Disability (PAS-ADD; Moss et al, 1993b), developed by the Hester Adrian Research Centre, has been shown to have both reasonable reliability and validity (Costello et al, 1997;Moss et al, 1997Moss et al, , 1998Prosser et al, 1998). This makes it one of the most useful tools currently available for the identification and diagnosis of psychiatric disorder in adults with learning disability.…”

Psychopathology in Children and Adolescents with Intellectual Disability: Measurement, Prevalence, Course, and Risk

“…These difficulties have led some to adapt the standard DSM and ICD criteria for use with ID (King, DeAntonio, McCracken, Forness, & Ackerland, 1994;Szymanski & King, 1999). Others have designed interview schedules specifically for this population, including the Psychiatric Assessment Schedule for Adults with Developmental Disability (PAS-ADD or mini-PAS-ADD; Moss, Prosser, & Goldberg, 1996;Moss, Ibbotson, Prosser, Goldberg, Patel, & Simpson, 1997). Moss et al (1996) showed that direct interviews with both respondents and caregiver informants using these schedules with adults with ID reduces missed diagnoses.…”