Recent Center Publications:

Wasserman GA, McReynolds LS, Lucas C, Fisher P, and Santos L (2002). The Voice DISC IV with incarcerated youth: Prevalence of disorder. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 41(3), 314-321.

This paper reports on rates of psychiatric disorder among incarcerated male juveniles, and the feasibility of using a self-administered, comprehensive structured psychiatric assessment (i.e., Voice DISC) with those youth. Rates of disorder were comparable to prior diagnostic assessment studies that were conducted using a face-to-face interview. Beyond expectably high rates of disruptive and substance use disorders, youth reported high levels of anxiety and mood disorders, with over 3% reporting a past month suicide attempt. Youth incarcerated for substance offenses reported Substance Use Disorders.

Wasserman GA, Jensen PJ, Ko SJ, Cocozza JJ, Trupin EW, Angold A, Cauffman E, Grisso T (2003). Mental health assessments in juvenile justice: Report on the consensus conference. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 42, 753-761.

This article reports on a Consensus Conference which was sponsored by the Center for the Promotion for Mental Health in Juvenile Justice, the Center for the Advancement of Children's Mental Health (both at Columbia University), and the National Center for Mental Health in Juvenile Justice in April 2002. A national group of expert researchers and practitioners convened and ultimately, agreed upon six recommendations for mental health assessment which include explicit information about how, why, and when to obtain mental health information on justice youth at each important step in the process.

Wasserman GA, McReynolds LS, Ko SJ, Katz LM, Cauffman E, Haxton W, and Lucas CP (2004). Screening for emergent risk and service needs among incarcerated youth: Comparing MAYSI-2 and Voice DISC-IV. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 43, 629-639.

In this study we examined the associations between the Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument-Second Version (MAYSI-2) and the Voice DISC, and the extent to which they overlap in identifying youths with mental health concerns. We found that the MAYSI-2 identifies some DISC-IV disorders better than it identifies others. Lack of overlap may result from MAYSI-2's combining diagnostic constructs into single subscales. In systems with multiple avenues of referral, the MAYSI-2 is a useful intake screen, but its utility as the sole means for identifying diagnoses for treatment purposes is limited.

Vilhauer JS, Mc Reynolds LS, Wasserman G, Wahl R (2004). Probation Officer's Mental Health Knowledge and Practices. Perspectives, 28 (3), 28-31.

This study examined probation officer's responses to a survey on mental health knowledge and practices in their employment settings when working with justice youth who have mental health concerns. We found that probation staff do play an important part in the early identification of juveniles with mental health problems and linking them to services. There are gaps, however, between existing practice and current knowledge about mental disorders, assessment and appropriate treatments. Fortunately, most probation officers indicate a desire to increase their knowledge in these areas. Training curricula and materials need to be developed that are specifically tailored for the role of the probation officer to facilitate linking youth to mental health services.

Ko SJ, Wasserman GA, McReynolds LS, and Katz, LM (2004). Contribution of parent report to Voice DISC-IV diagnosis among incarcerated youth. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry,43 (7) 868-877.

We examined contribution of parent report to youth report in defining psychiatric caseness among incarcerated youths. We found that parent report potentially adds new information for youths who do not endorse any impairment or deny disorder. However, the value of including parent report for youths in justice settings should be balanced with the real challenges involved in obtaining information from parents.

Wasserman GA, McReynolds LS, Ko SJ, Katz LM, Schwank J (2005). Gender differences in psychiatric disorder for youths in juvenile probations. American Journal of Public Health, 95 (1), 131-137.

This study examined gender differences in psychiatric disorder among youths at probation intake. Girls with violent offenses, compared to other groups, were three to five times more likely than boys to report anxiety disorders. Among youths with conduct problems, girls demonstrate elevated risk for internalizing disorder, compared to boys.

Wasserman GA, Vilhauer JS, McReynolds LS, Shoai R, John R (2005). Mental Health Screening in the Juvenile justice System: A comparison between the Voice-DISC-IV and the MAYSI-2. Journal for Juvenile Justice and Detention Services 19 (1).

This paper summarizes previous findings of Wasserman et al., 2004, which examined associations between the MAYSI-2 and DISC-IV to determine the degree to which they identify justice youths with mental health service needs. MAYSI-2 identified youths with some DISC-IV disorder, but did not discriminate well between specific disorder types. MAYSI-2 identified youths with a history of suicide attempts and was more likely to identify youths with comorbid disorders than those with non-comorbid disorders. Results support existing practice recommendations for two distinct screening procedures to identify emergent risk and service need. Clinical implications for the screening of incarcerated youths are discussed.

Wasserman GA, Mc Reynolds, LS, Fisher, PA, Lucas, CP (2005). Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children: Present State Vocie Version (Voice DISC). Chapter in : Handbook of Screening and Assessment Tools for Juveniles Justice, Eds. Grisso T, Vincent G, Seagrave D. New York: Guilford Press.

Hayes M, McReynolds LS, Wasserman GA, Haxton W (2005). Comparison of the MAYSI-2’s Paper and Voice Formats. Assessment, Vol.12(5):395-403.

This paper examined the comparability of paper and voice formats of the Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument-Second Version (MAYSI-2) among incarcerated youth. The findings suggest that the two formats of the MAYSI-2 are comparable instruments. The voice format may be preferable to the paper format for screening justice youth for mental health problems as it may reduce incomplete data, may increase reporting of stigmatized behaviors, and its ability to automatically generate scored reports and aggregate data.

Cuellar AE, McReynolds LS, Wasserman GA. (2006). Can mental health treatment reduce crime among youth? Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, Vol.25(1):197-214.

This study considers the policy issues around youth mental health diversion programs and evaluates the effect of a mental health diversion program for youth that was implemented in Texas. Mental health diversion can be used effectively to delay or prevent youth recidivism.

McReynolds LS and Wasserman GA. (2006). Suicide risk at juvenile probation intake. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, Vol.36(2):230-249.

This paper measured suicidal behavior and disorder on the DISC in 991 randomly selected youths, and examined associations between demographic, offense, and disorder characteristics and past attempts. Recent attempts were more common in girls, in those with Depression or SUD, and in violent offenders. While more girls reported recent attempts regardless of depression, depressed boys’ attempt risk was as high as girls’. Depression contributed more to attempt history than did SUD.