Interviewers' notes about the basic structure of each section

Nearly all of the DAWBA sections cover one type of mental health problem and have a similar structure:

• There is a brief introduction to give the respondent a mental picture of what the section is about.

• There are usually one or two screening questions to see if it is worth going any further. If the screening questions are positive, or if the respondent reported related problems in the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), then the interview continues. If not, the rest of the section in skipped.

• The respondent is asked in detail about the presence and severity of symptoms in that domain. When symptoms are definitely present, the interview continues. When they are not, then the rest of the section is omitted.

• Respondents may be asked about how long symptoms have been present, and when they started.

• Each section ends by asking about the impact of symptoms on the child and the family.

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Last modified : 05/09/09