Overt Aggression Scale

Aggression is an important component of mood disorders. Thus, a measure that captures the frequency and severity of the child s outbursts, such as the Overt Aggression Scale (OAS Yudofsky et ah, 1986), may be useful. This rating was evaluated in one inpatient study, and appears to be reliable and valid (Kafantaris et ah, 1996). Behavior disorder rating scales that measure ADHD and ODD are also likely to be useful. As noted above, our clinic uses a combined Child and Adolescent Symptom Inventory both at baseline and to follow treatment response, as it provides a comprehensive rating of symptoms (Grayson and Carlson, 1991 Gadow et al., 1999). 

S., and Campbell, M. (1996) Assessment of children with the overt aggression scale. / Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci 8 186-193. 

Yudofsky, S.C., Silver, J.M., Jackson, W, Endicott, J., and Williams, D. (1986) The Overt Aggression Scale for the objective rating of verbal and physical aggression. Am J Psychiatry 143 35-39. 

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