by Richard M. Marshall, PhD and Berney J. Wilkinson, PhD
Purpose: Assist in the identification of symptoms associated with early onset bipolar disorder
Age: 3 through to18 years
Admin: Individual administration
Time: Approximately 15-20 minutes
Qualification Level: B
Appropriate for use with children and adolescents ages 3-18 years, the PBRS is a standardised, norm-referenced parent and teacher rating scale that assists in the identification of symptoms associated with early onset bipolar disorder. The instrument also aids in identifying comorbid disorders as well as in differentiating disorders that have similar symptoms and behavioural characteristics. Rather than rendering a clinical diagnosis, the PBRS focuses on symptom identification and profile analysis.
Features of the PBRS
- Uses a multi-informant approach--The PBRS has a Parent Version Response Booklet and a Teacher Version Response Booklet that provides the examiner with information about a child's or an adolescent's symptoms and behavioural characteristics both at home and at school. A key characteristic of early onset bipolar disorder is that a child generally can display a higher rate of mood instability and aggression at home versus in school.
- Assists in identifying comorbid disorders and differentiating disorders that have similar symptoms and behavioural characteristics--The items on the PBRS capture elements that are unique to early onset bipolar disorder including mood swings, chronic irritability, grandiosity, explosive outbursts, and emotional meltdowns while at the same time aiding in identifying symptoms that are associated with documented comorbid disorders (e.g., ADHD). These same items also can be helpful in making a differential diagnosis.
- Applicable in a variety of settings--The PBRS has numerous applications in clinical, educational, and research settings. It can be used as an assessment tool to assist in symptom identification and differential diagnosis in clinical settings. In educational settings, the PBRS provides educators with a more complete picture of the child's symptom complex so that they can work with parents and other professionals to better determine the importance of these symptoms and to structure activities in the classroom. The PBRS also can be used in research settings to aid in identifying early onset bipolar disorder, to differentiate it from other related disorders, and to judge the efficacy of interventions aimed at ameliorating the associated symptoms.
Standardisation, Reliability, and Validity
The PBRS Normative sample was composed of 541 parents and 610 teachers of children ages 3-18 years and was well-matched to the U.S. population for age and gender. In addition to the Normative sample, data were collected on a Combined Clinical sample of 224 parents and 194 teachers of children ages 3-18 years. Five specific clinical groups make up the Combined Clinical sample: (a) Bipolar Disorder, (b) ADHD, (c) Oppositional Defiant Disorder, (d) Conduct Disorder, and (e) Pervasive Developmental Disorder
