DetectaWeb-Distress Scale: A Global and Multidimensional Web-Based Screener for Emotional Disorder Symptoms in Children and Adolescents.

Emotional disorder symptoms are highly prevalent and a common cause of disability among children and adolescents. Screening and early detection are needed to identify those who need help and to improve treatment outcomes. Nowadays, especially with the arrival of the COVID-19 outbreak, assessment is increasingly conducted online, resulting in the need for brief online screening measures. The aim of the current study was to examine the reliability and different sources of validity evidence of a new web-based screening questionnaire for emotional disorder symptoms, the DetectaWeb-Distress Scale, which assesses mood (major depression and dysthymic disorder), anxiety (separation anxiety, generalized anxiety, social phobia, panic disorder/agoraphobia, and specific phobia), obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, suicidality (suicidal ideation, plans, and attempts), and global distress. A total of 1,499 participants (aged 8-18) completed the DetectaWeb-Distress Scale and specific questionnaires for emotional disorder symptoms, suicidal behaviors, and well-being through a web-based survey. Results indicated that a structural model of 10 correlated factors fits reasonably better in comparison to the remaining models; measurement invariance for age and gender; good internal consistency (McDonald's ω ranging from 0.65 to 0.94); and significant positive correlation with other measures of anxiety, depression, PTSD, or distress, and negative correlation with well-being measures, displaying support for convergent-discriminant validity. We also found that girls scored higher than boys on most of the subscales, and children had higher scores for social anxiety, specific phobia, panic disorder, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms, whereas adolescents scored higher on depressive symptoms, suicidality, and generalized anxiety, but the effect sizes were small to medium for all comparisons. The DetectaWeb-Distress Scale is a valid, innovative, and useful online tool for the screening and evaluation of preventive programs for mental health in children and adolescents.

Relación entre conducta suicida y síntomas interiorizados en niños y adolescentes / Relationship between suicide behaviors and internalizing symptoms in children and adolescents

El suicidio en niños y adolescentes es un grave problema de salud. La presencia de sintomatología interiorizada está asociada con conducta suicida. El objetivo de este estudio fue investigar la relación entre esta sintomatología y las conductas de suicidio en esa población. 1499 participantes (8-18 años) completaron un protocolo online. Se aplicaron análisis de regresión y análisis de procesos de mediación (modelo 4). El 11,90% de niños y el 21,30% de los adolescentes presentaron conductas de suicidio. Los mayores valores de odd ratio se encontraron con las variables de depresión mayor (DM) (OR = 3,56; IC 95% = 2,53-4,10) y trastorno de pánico/agorafobia (TPA) (OR = 3,09; IC 95% = 2,05-4,66). El modelo 4 con DM mediando entre TPA y la conducta suicida, explicó un 17% de la varianza de la conducta suicida en adolescentes. Según los datos, los adolescentes con sintomatología interiorizada (en concreto síntomas de TPA y DM) tienen mayor riesgo de conducta suicida. Por tanto, es necesario impulsar programas para detectar de forma temprana la sintomatología emocional ansiosa y depresiva para prevenir el suicidio

Suicide in children and adolescents is a serious health problem. The presence of internalizing symptomatology is associated with suicidal ideation and behavior. Our aim was to investigate this association. A total of 1499 participants completed an online questionnaire. Regression analysis was used to investigate the association between internalizing symptomatology and suicidal behavior and conditional process analysis (model 4). The prevalence of suicidal behavior in Spanish children and adolescents was 11.9% and 21.3%, respectively. In multivariate analysis, the highest odd ratio values were found for major depression (MD) (OR = 3.56, 95% CI = 2.53-4.10) and panic disorder/Agoraphobia (PDA) (OR = 3.09, 95% CI = 2.05-4.66). The regression model with DM showed that PDA symptoms had a significant indirect effect, through depression symptoms, on suicide behaviors, accounting for 17% of the total variance explained in adolescents. Therefore, it is necessary to implement early identification and intervention programs to address anxious and depressive symptomatology and prevent suicide in adolescents

DetectaWeb Project: study protocol of a web-based detection of mental health of children and adolescents.

INTRODUCTION: Traditionally, research and practice addressing mental health has been conducted within a unidimensional model, explaining mental health as the presence/absence of psychological problems (distress or psychopathological symptoms). More recently, accumulative evidence has supported a bi-dimensional model, which conceptualises psychological problems and psychological strengths (well-being) as related-yet-distinct continua that, when considered together, yields a more comprehensive understanding of individuals. The DetectaWeb Project is a web-based early detection assessment of the mental health continuum (MHC) for children and adolescents and aims to: develop a web-based platform for screening of the MHC, including both psychological problems (anxiety, depression and suicidality) and personal strengths (emotional, cognitive/psychological and social aspects); examine the prevalence of the MHC among children and adolescents; and analyse key determinants (risk and protective factors) of the MHC. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We will conduct an ongoing, multicentre observational, cross-sectional study of Spanish children and adolescents. Participants will be assessed through a web-based platform. In order to validate the web-based screening system, a clinical reappraisal will be completed among a subsample of respondents. To elucidate youth's levels of subjective distress and well-being, we will include measures of anxiety, depression, suicidality, well-being, externalising problems and socio-demographic variables. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval has been obtained at all sites. All participants will sign a free and informed consent form before the assessment. Results of the study will be communicated during national and international meetings in the field of clinical and health psychology with children and adolescents. Publications will be sought in journals usually read by psychologists or psychiatrists involved in the development of epidemiological studies and interventions for mental health promotion based on resilience building for children and adolescents.