Validity of the PHQ-9A as a self-report screener for major depressive disorder in youth ages 10-12 years.

Approximately 2 % of preadolescents in the United States have Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) which is associated with long-term morbidity; however, they are frequently underrecognized and undertreated. Guided by the need for self-report depression screening instruments in children below 13 years of age, this study sought to establish the psychometric properties of the Patient Health Questionnaire for Adolescents (PHQ-9A) as a dimensional measure and obtain a categorical cut-point using a structured interview-based diagnosis of current MDD in preadolescents. Preadolescent participants (10-12-year-olds; n = 470) were drawn from the Texas Childhood Trauma Research Network, a longitudinal registry of youth with trauma exposure.

Neurocognitive functioning in hispanic and non-hispanic individuals in rural West Texas and the influence of sociodemographic factors.

Several sociodemographic factors are known to influence neurocognitive functioning; however, little is known about their effects on Hispanic and non-Hispanic populations. This cross-sectional study investigated the relationship between age, educational attainment, and Hispanic ethnicity on neurocognitive functioning in a sample of persons aged 40-96 living in rural West Texas. Our sample consisted of 1,341 participants (709 Hispanics, 632 non-Hispanics, M = 58.

Feelings of Empowerment Scale for Family Caregivers: Development, Exploratory, and Confirmative Analysis.

Objectives: This study aimed to validate a measure of feelings of empowerment among family caregivers of persons with life limiting illnesses.

Methods: Family caregivers ( = 295) completed a survey on their feelings of empowerment and psychosocial constructs.

Results: Utilizing exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, the study validated the Empowerment in the Context of Caregiving scale, revealing a two-factor structure related to influencing the care recipient and controlling personal outcomes, with high reliability and validity.

Comparing Public Perceptions of Child and Adult Grief Responses to Familial Incarceration.

Children of incarcerated parents may grieve this loss, yet perceptions of their grief are understudied. Using vignettes varying by age (adult/child) and grief response (prolonged/resilient), we examined differences between perceptions of adults and children grieving parental incarceration. Participants rated grief response appropriateness, comfort providing support, and grief therapy recommendations for the grieving person in the vignette.