Children's anxiety scales in relation to self, parental, and psychiatric ratings of anxiety.

Abstract

The CMAS and the General Anxiety Scale for Children were administered to a group of pediatric and psychiatric outpatients and modified forms were given to the parents of the children. The psychiatric group was also given a clinical rating of anxiety and a check list rating of psychiatric symptoms. Significant positive interest correlations were found between the anxiety items, but not the lie items of the 2 scales. Moderate agreement was found between the children's self-ratings of anxiety and those done by their parents. Significant agreement was found between parents' ratings of their children's anxiety. The psychiatric group scored significantly higher on the CMAS than the pediatric group. The number of psychiatric symptoms was found to correlate positively with the anxiety scale scores. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)