Marie-Mitchell and O'Connor used a simple tool to screen for adverse childhood experiences (ACE). These can help to identify a patient who may benefit from an intervention to reduce the negative impact. The authors are from Loma Linda University and University of Rochester.
Items:
(1) maltreatment suspected (Child Protective Services inquiry, foster care, etc)
(2) domestic violence in the past year
(3) substance use (problem drinking or use of street drugs)
(4) mental illness (depression, attempted suicide, mental illness)
(5) criminal behavior (history of jail or prison)
(6) single parent
(7) education (did not graduate high school or have GED)
where:
• The first 6 questions are standard ACE items. Lack of education was added because of the economic implications.
|
Response
|
Points
|
|
no
|
0
|
|
yes
|
1
|
total score =
= SUM(points for all 7 parameters)
Interpretation:
• minimum score: 0
• maximum score: 7
• The higher the score the greater the adverse childhood experiences.
