- Міськов, Геннадій (orcid.org/0000-0002-4135-8880) (2025) Informational support for HADS practice for researching the psychological state of children with special educational needs in the conditions of martial state in Ukraine «Перспективи та інновації науки (Серія «Педагогіка», Серія «Психологія», Серія «Медицина»)», 7 (53). pp. 1472-1480. ISSN 2786-4952
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Abstract
This article provides a critical analysis of the challenges in applying the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) for the diagnosis of children with special educational needs (SEN) under martial law in Ukraine. As a result of armed aggression, children experience the devastating effects of chronic stress and the loss of a sense of security, which poses a particular challenge for vulnerable groups, especially children with developmental disorders. This creates an acute need for valid instruments for the rapid assessment of psycho-emotional states; however, the uncritical adoption of methodologies designed for other populations is unacceptable. Despite the proven effectiveness of HADS in working with adults, its direct application to a pediatric population under conditions of trauma is scientifically unfounded and ethically questionable. The objective of the article is to theoretically substantiate the impossibility of obtaining reliable diagnostic data using the HADS scale in children with SEN in the current context and to formulate cautions for practitioners. The research methodology is based on a systematic analysis of the scale's psychometric properties, a comparative analysis of its conceptual framework with the clinical picture of trauma reactions, an analysis of the risks of diagnostic errors, and a review of modern recommendations for psychodiagnostics in extreme conditions. It is argued that the use of HADS leads to a series of psychometric artifacts. Primarily, the fundamental problem is emphasized: the complete absence of validation and normative data for the Ukrainian pediatric population with SEN, which a priori makes an objective interpretation of the results impossible. This problem is compounded by the excessive cognitive and emotional load of the questions for children with intellectual disabilities or ASD. Special attention is paid to the phenomenon of diagnostic confounding, where symptoms of acute stress reaction and PTSD (such as emotional numbing and hypervigilance), which are normative reactions to abnormal circumstances, are falsely identified by the scale as manifestations of endogenous depression or anxiety. This creates a high risk of false-positive conclusions, which can lead to unjustified medication therapy and the stigmatization of the child. The practical significance of the work lies in preventing diagnostic errors. A conclusion is formulated regarding the urgent need to abandon the use of the unadapted HADS scale and to consolidate the efforts of the scientific community to adapt and validate a specialized, trauma-sensitive toolkit for children with SEN.
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