Use of the SDQ to identify mental health difficulties in looked after children

What is it about?

The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire is commonly used to monitor the mental health of looked after children (children in out-of-home care). We compared SDQ scores of looked after children referred to a mental health service to the outcome of routine assessments by clinicians. We found that accuracy was low when completed by carers or young people themselves, and moderate when completed by teachers. We then interviewed the clinicians who did the assessments to find out why they thought the SDQ did not pick up some of the children's difficulties.

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Why is it important?

In England and Wales, the carer-report version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) is used to assess and monitor looked-after children’s (LAC) mental health; and some targeted Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) include a minimum SDQ score in their acceptance criteria. However, this study suggests that it should not be relied upon as a sole means of identifying mental health difficulties in this vulnerable, high-risk population.