AUTHOR=Bryant Annie , Guy Jacalyn , The CALM Team , Holmes Joni , Astle Duncan , Baker Kate , Gathercole Susan , Holmes Joni , Kievit Rogier , Manly Tom , Bathelt Joe , Bennett Marc , Bignardi Giacomo , Bishop Sarah , Bottacin Erica , Bridge Lara , Brkic Diandra , Bryant Annie , Butterfield Sally , Byrne Elizabeth , Crickmore Gemma , Dalmaijer Edwin , Daly Fánchea , Emery Tina , Forde Laura , Franckel Grace , Furhmann Delia , Gadie Andrew , Gharooni Sara , Guy Jacalyn , Hawkins Erin , Jaroslawska Agnieszka , Joeghan Sara , Johnson Amy , Jones Jonathan , Mareva Silvana , Ng-Cordell Elise , O’Brien Sinead , O’Leary Cliodhna , Rennie Joseph , Simpson-Kent Ivan , Siugzdaite Roma , Smith Tess , Uh Stephani , Woolgar Francesca , Zhang Mengya TITLE=The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire Predicts Concurrent Mental Health Difficulties in a Transdiagnostic Sample of Struggling Learners JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychology VOLUME=11 YEAR=2020 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.587821 DOI=10.3389/fpsyg.2020.587821 ISSN=1664-1078 ABSTRACT=

Children and adolescents with developmental problems are at increased risk of experiencing mental health problems. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) is widely used as a screener for detecting mental health difficulties in these populations, but its use thus far has been restricted to groups of children with diagnosed disorders (e.g., ADHD). Transdiagnostic approaches, which focus on symptoms and soften or remove the boundaries between traditional categorical disorders, are increasingly adopted in research and practice. The aim of this study was to assess the potential of the SDQ to detect concurrent mental health problems in a transdiagnostic sample of children. The sample were referred by health and educational professionals for difficulties related to learning (N = 389). Some had one diagnosis, others had multiple, but many had no diagnoses. Parent-rated SDQ scores were significantly positively correlated with parent ratings of mental health difficulties on the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS). Ratings on the SDQ Emotion subscale significantly predicted the likelihood of having concurrent clinical anxiety and depression scores. Ratings on the Hyperactivity subscale predicted concurrent anxiety levels. These findings suggest the SDQ could be a valuable screening tool for identifying existing mental health difficulties in children recognized as struggling, as it can be in typically developing children and those with specific diagnoses.