<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<sec id="j_sjcapp-2023-0001_s_006">
<h3>Background</h3>
<p>There is a lack of reliable and valid PTSD tests for young children that cannot read or are weak readers. The semi-projective cartoon test, “Darryl”, which is read aloud, is a measure that appeals to this age group. The test has been applied in both clinical and epidemiological studies.</p>
</sec>
<sec id="j_sjcapp-2023-0001_s_007">
<h3>Objective</h3>
<p>to validate a cartoon test, “Darryl”, for children aged 6 or older in a population of children suspectedly sexually and/or physically abused.</p>
</sec>
<sec id="j_sjcapp-2023-0001_s_008">
<h3>Methods</h3>
<p>In the Danish Child Centres, 327 children were screened with Darryl as part of an assessment for further intervention. The Bech Youth Inventory was filled out by 113 children, and 63 caregivers filled out the Strengths &amp; Difficulties Questionnaire. Correlations were used to study the convergent validity between the scales and subscales and effect sizes were estimated. Reliability of the scales was investigated using Cronbach’s alpha.</p>
</sec>
<sec id="j_sjcapp-2023-0001_s_009">
<h3>Results</h3>
<p>Following the DSM-IV, 55.7% of the children (n = 182) had a possible PTSD diagnosis. More girls (n = 110, 62.9 %) than boys (n = 72, 47.4%) had PTSD. A total of 21.7 % (n = 71) had subclinical PTSD, lacking only one symptom of the full diagnosis. There was no significant difference in PTSD regarding physical or sexual abuse.</p>
</sec>
<sec id="j_sjcapp-2023-0001_s_010">
<h3>Clinical significance</h3>
<p>The test allows clinicians in the pediatric field to screen for possible PTSD in a population where systematic self-report data have paramount importance.</p>
</sec>
<sec id="j_sjcapp-2023-0001_s_011">
<h3>Conclusions</h3>
<p>Darryl appears to be a valid and reliable test for screening young children who have been physically or sexually abused. The test is helpful for clinician working with young children to identify those have developed trauma symptoms to secure them early treatment.</p>
</sec>
</abstract>

Background
There is a lack of reliable and valid PTSD tests for young children that cannot read or are weak readers. The semi-projective cartoon test, “Darryl”, which is read aloud, is a measure that appeals to this age group. The test has been applied in both clinical and epidemiological studies.


Objective
to validate a cartoon test, “Darryl”, for children aged 6 or older in a population of children suspectedly sexually and/or physically abused.


Methods
In the Danish Child Centres, 327 children were screened with Darryl as part of an assessment for further intervention. The Bech Youth Inventory was filled out by 113 children, and 63 caregivers filled out the Strengths & Difficulties Questionnaire. Correlations were used to study the convergent validity between the scales and subscales and effect sizes were estimated. Reliability of the scales was investigated using Cronbach’s alpha.


Results
Following the DSM-IV, 55.7% of the children (n = 182) had a possible PTSD diagnosis. More girls (n = 110, 62.9 %) than boys (n = 72, 47.4%) had PTSD. A total of 21.7 % (n = 71) had subclinical PTSD, lacking only one symptom of the full diagnosis. There was no significant difference in PTSD regarding physical or sexual abuse.


Clinical significance
The test allows clinicians in the pediatric field to screen for possible PTSD in a population where systematic self-report data have paramount importance.


Conclusions
Darryl appears to be a valid and reliable test for screening young children who have been physically or sexually abused. The test is helpful for clinician working with young children to identify those have developed trauma symptoms to secure them early treatment.

Validation of the “Darryl” PTSD cartoon test with abused children

Scandinavian Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

{"article-title":"Validation of the \u201cDarryl\u201d PTSD cartoon test with abused children"}

Background
There is a lack of reliable and valid PTSD tests for young children that cannot read or are weak readers. The semi-projective cartoon test,...

Validation of the “Darryl” PTSD cartoon test with abused children

Article Category: Research Article

Published Online: Feb 28, 2023

Page range: 1 - 9

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/sjcapp-2023-0001

Keywords
young children, trauma, abuse, cartoon test, validation

© 2023 Sille Schandorph Løkkegaard, Camilla Jeppesen, Ask Elklit, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Validation of the “Darryl” PTSD cartoon test with abused children

Article Category: Research Article

Published Online: Feb 28, 2023

Page range: 1 - 9

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/sjcapp-2023-0001

Keywordsyoung children, trauma, abuse, cartoon test, validation

© 2023 Sille Schandorph Løkkegaard, Camilla Jeppesen, Ask Elklit, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
young children, trauma, abuse, cartoon test, validation