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This study examined the psychometric properties of the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale for Parents (SCAS-P) in 1943 father-mother dyads and 1785 students. Results of confirmatory factor analyses for SCAS-P were in favour of the original model with six correlated factors. The internal consistency of SCAS-P was acceptable (α = .63-.91), and the test-retest reliability was acceptable (r = .46-.72). The convergent and divergent validity of SCAS-P was supported by significant correlations with an internalizing subscale to a greater extent than with an externalizing subscale. Congruent validity was supported by significant correlations between father and mother reports (r = .60-.71) and child and parent reports (r = .25-.42). Significant differences between community and clinical samples supported the discriminant validity. Adolescents showed higher anxiety levels than children, and girls showed higher anxiety levels than boys. Our findings suggest that the SCAS-P is a suitable parent instrument to measure child anxiety symptoms in Mainland Chinese children and adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigated anxiety disorder symptoms in Chinese preschool children. A total of 1,854 mothers of children aged 3-6 years completed the 28-item Chinese version of Spence Preschool Anxiety Scale (PAS). Results demonstrated that the structure of anxiety in Chinese preschool children included five factors, and this five-factor structure applied to different age and gender groups. Inconsistent with the study by Edwards et al. (J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol 39:400-409, ) suggesting that obsessive-compulsive disorder did not comprise an independent factor in Australian preschoolers, this symptom can be viewed as an independent factor in Chinese preschoolers. Younger children displayed higher anxiety levels than older children. Anxiety symptoms of Chinese preschoolers were found at a high level compared to other studies. Substantial differences were found with regard to the content of prevalent anxiety symptoms among Chinese and Australian preschool children. The applicability of the five-factor structure of PAS and research implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To review the demographic profiles of new psychiatric referrals to the Comprehensive Child Development Service of a regional hospital in Hong Kong and study their psychiatric diagnostic profiles. Participants and Methods: Consecutive patients referred to the Comprehensive Child Development Service from October 2006 to July 2008 were enrolled. Psychiatric diagnosis was made by a specialist psychiatrist, according to the International Classification of Diseases - 10th Revision. Antenatal and postnatal patients were studied separately. With regard to the 2 major diagnostic groups (depressive and anxiety disorders), risk factors - including marital status, unplanned pregnancy, maternal psychiatric history, personal psychiatric history, and complications in previous pregnancies - were analysed and compared. Results: A total of 181 cases referred to psychiatry were included; 24 (13%) were antenatal, while 157 (87%) were postnatal. There were 2 main diagnostic groups, namely patients with depressive spectrum disorder and anxiety spectrum disorder. Among the 24 antenatal patients, 17 (71%) had anxiety, and 4 (17%) had depressive spectrum disorder. Among the 157 postnatal patients, 67 (43%) had depressive spectrum symptoms and 76 (48%) had anxiety spectrum symptoms. Conclusions: The impression that depressive disorder was the only significant mental disorder of pregnancy in the perinatal period needs further evaluation. A high percentage of patients suffered anxiety spectrum disorders during the perinatal period. Screening, early detection, and effective intervention for anxiety disorders should also be an important component of the Comprehensive Child Development Service programme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]