Child and Adolescent Needs & Strengths: An Information Integration Tool for Children and Adolescents with Mental Health Challenges ( CANS-MH )
Overview
Acronym:
CANS-MH Author Contact:
John S. Lyons, Ph.D.
Professor
Division of Psychology
Mental Health Services and Policy Program
Abbott Hall, Suite 1205
710 North Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60611
312/908-8972
Citation:
Lyons J.S., Griffin E., Fazio M., & Lyons M.B. (1999). Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths: An Information Integration Tool for Children and Adolescents With Mental Health Challenges (CANS-MH), Manual. Chicago: Buddin Praed Foundation, 558 Willow Rd., Winnetka, IL 60093.
To Obtain:
Melanie Buddin Lyons
phone: 847-501-5113
fax: 847-501-5291
Mlyons405@aol.com
The manual and coding form can be obtained free of charge from the website. However, the manual asks that those who wish to obtain permission to use the measure contact Melanie Buddin Lyons.
Email:
jsl329@northwestern.edu
WebSite:
www.buddinpraed.org
Cost:
$0.00
Copyright:
Yes Description:
The CANS-MH provides a comprehensive assessment of the type and severity of clinical and psychosocial factors that may impact treatment decisions and outcomes. It is part of the Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) series of decision support tools, with different versions of the CANS tailored to the needs of specific youth populations (see altered versions).
The CANS-MH is designed to affect clinical decision making with the intensity of treatment indicated by the number and severity of presenting risk factors. The measure also assesses for strengths. The CANS-MH can be used either as a prospective assessment tool during treatment planning or as a retrospective assessment tool to review existing information (e.g., chart reviews) for quality assurance monitoring or system planning.
Items can be coded or completed by mental health personnel, child welfare workers, parents, family advocates, probation officers, teachers, research staff, and other groups of laypeople.
Theoretical Orientation Summary:
Not available.
Domains Assessed:
Developmental functioning (child)
Family functioning
General symptomatology (child)
Personal/interpersonal functioning (child)
Risk Behaviors (child)
Languages:
English (USA)
Portuguese
Spanish
Age Range:
0-18 Years
Measure Type:
Screening
Number of Items:
43 Measure Format:
Other
Time to Complete:
10
Reporter:
Other
Score Time:
5
Education Level:
16
Periodicity:
Unknown Response Format:
4-point scale. Anchors are given for each point in a scale.
Strengths are rated in the opposite manner so that in all cases a low rating is positive, and a higher rating is indicative of a problem and a need for action.
In general the rating for scales is as follows:
0=no evidence and/or no need for action
1=mild degree and/or need for watchful waiting to see if action is needed
2=moderate degree and/or need for action
3=severe or profound degree and/or need for immediate or intensive action
U=unknown but indicates a need for more information
Materials Needed:
Paper and pencil
Materials Notes:
Manual and instrument can be obtained free of charge from the website.
Information Provided:
Areas of concern/risks
Clinician friendly output
Continuous assessment
Program evaluation info
Raw Scores
Strengths
Training
Training to Administrator:
Prior experience psych testing & interpretation
Training by experienced clinician (<4 hours)
Training to Interpret:
Not Available
Psychometrics
Norms:
None
Psychometric Norm Notes:
Norms are available from the foundation at www.buddinpraed.org.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
1. The CANS is a great tool for facilitating the exchange of information about patients because it provides a common language regarding an array of important areas of symptomatology and functioning.
2. Item anchors are relevant to clinical decision-making.
3. Information provided can be closely linked to treatment planning.
4. The item incorporates a solid focus on strengths, consistent with strength-based treatment planning guidelines.
5. The measure makes conceptual sense to clinicians.
Cons:
1. There are few published articles examining the psychometrics of the CANS-MH. What exists is promising, but more research is needed on the test-retest reliability and validity. It is, however, important to note that the parent measure, the Childhood Severity of Psychiatric Illness, has been used in 12 additional published articles.
2. Although items within dimensions can be combined to create continuous scores that can be used to assess outcomes, if a researcher or clinician is targeting a specific problem area (e.g., Depression/Anxiety), for this purpose, the measure might have restricted statistical power because individual problems are assessed using a 3-point scale. The CANS-MH could be used to screen for a problem in a specific area with a positive screen, followed by administration of an instrument that specifically assesses that area. Nevertheless, the CANS-MH would provide a measure of clinically significant change.
Author Comments
Author Comments:
The author provided feedback, which was integrated into the review.
Citation for Review:
Landon Poppleton
Editor of Review:
Chandra Ghosh Ippen, Ph.D.,
Madhur Kulkarni, M.S.
Last Updated:
Mon, 07/11/2005
PDF Available:
Yes
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