Comprehensive mental and cognitive health screening
A novel approach
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21629113 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Sejal K Vyas (0009-0006-1652-9154), Sejal Vyas (Stamford Hospital, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 45 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Publication date | 2026-02-01 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Current Psychology (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1046-1310 • E-ISSN: 1936-4733 |
| Publisher | Springer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1007/s12144-025-08559-4 |
| OpenAlex | W7125911671 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 43 |
Mental health disorders pose a global public health challenge with compounding impact upon youth. Practice guidelines for clinicians, including pediatricians, have called for evidence-based methods to diagnose the multifaceted nature of mental health conditions, while taking into account comorbidities. Existing screening tools developed decades ago are constricted in focus and are not aligned with current advances in mental and cognitive health, thereby limiting clinical applicability. In this retrospective chart review, we analyzed data from 85 patients (58 children/adolescents, 27 adults) who underwent comprehensive neuropsychological assessment. The Vyas Questionnaire (VQ)© a 10–11 item patient-reported outcome measure was administered at intake to screen for psychological, neurocognitive, and medical factors. Using a rule-based scoring model, the VQ classified patients into risk categories across multiple domains and diagnostic categories. Factor analysis confirmed the intentional heterogeneity of the instrument’s design. The 8-Factor Psychological model demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.87; McDonald’s ω = 0.87) and good reliability. Strong predictive validity across multiple domains were noteworthy, with high sensitivity for Anxiety (0.96), Attention – Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (0.94), and Learning Disorder/ADLs (0.86) symptom risks. Specificity analysis was particularly strong (1.00) for Depression, Social Struggles, and Emotional Disorder symptom risks, and were strong (0.88) for Learning Disorder/ADLs and Autism Spectrum Disorder Symptom Risk. The vQ advances mental health screening through its comprehensive yet brief assessment of psychological, neurocognitive, and medical factors, and maintains clinical utility. These initial validation pilot study results demonstrate an innovative approach towards addressing the public mental health crisis
Anxiety · Autism spectrum disorder · Cognition · Discriminant validity · Interpretability · Limiting · Mental health · Neuropsychology · Social anxiety · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development · Mental Health Treatment and Access · Personality Disorders and Psychopathology
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
Clinical Practice Guideline for the Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Children and Adolescents
Year Research Update Review
Current Causes of Death in Children and Adolescents in the United States
A tutorial on pilot studies
Age at onset of mental disorders worldwide
Schizophrenia
US National and State-Level Prevalence of Mental Health Disorders and Disparities of Mental Health Care Use in Children
Sample size in factor analysis.
Interrater reliability
School Gun Violence in the United States
Initial Scale Development
Self-Harm Behaviors, Suicide Attempts, and Suicidal Ideation in a Clinical Sample of Children and Adolescents with Psychiatric Disorders
Significance tests and goodness of fit in the analysis of covariance structures
| Highly cited | No |
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