Is It Prudent to Administer All Items for Each Child Behavior Checklist Cross-Informant Syndrome? Evaluating the Psychometric Properties of the Youth Self-Report Dimensions With Confirmatory Factor Analysis and Item Response Theory.

Through surveying of children in 10 nations with parent, teacher, and Youth Self-Report (YSR) forms of the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), cross-informant syndromes (CISs) were derived and cross-validated by sample-dependent methodology. Generalizing CBCL syndromes and norms to nations excluded from its normative sample is problematic. This study used confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs) to test factor model fit for CISs on the YSR responses of 625 Jamaican children ages 11 to 18 years. Item response theory (IRT), a sample independent methodology, was used to estimate the psychometric properties of individual items on each dimension. CFAs indicated poor to moderate model-to-data fit. Across all syndromes, IRT analyses revealed that more than 3/4 of the cross-informant items yielded little information. Eliminating such items could be cost effective in terms of administration time yet improve the measure's discrimination across syndrome severity levels. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The Youth Self-Report inventory: A study of its measurements fidelity.

Evaluated the measurement fidelity (i.e., reliability, factor structure, and validity) of T. M. Achenbach's (1966, 1991) Youth Self-Report (YSR) scale. Data from hospitalized psychiatric adolescents were used to test the unidimensionality of each narrow band syndrome and to conduct confirmatory factor analysis on broadband syndromes. Three competing models regarding broadband syndromes were constructed and compared with the structure reported by Achenbach (1991). The results partly support Achenbach's findings in that 4 of the 7 narrowband syndromes were found to be valid. However, meaningful subdimensions were obtained for the other 3 narrowband syndromes. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed that internalizing and externalizing were valid broadband syndromes. However, 3 narrowband syndromes (Social Problems, Thought Problems, and Attention Problems) cross-loaded on both broadband syndromes. Important differences in broadband syndromes were found between boys and girls. Supplemental analyses on Time 2 data demonstrated the stability of these findings. Implications for future refinement of the YSR are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Advances in empirically based assessment: Revised cross-informant syndromes and new DSM-oriented scales for the CBCL, YSR, and TRF: Comment on Lengua, Sadowski, Friedrich, and Fisher (2001).

L. Lengua et al. (2001) (see record 2001-18163-010) proposed scoring the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL; T. Achenbach, (1991 b) on dimensions that "correspond to current conceptualizations of child symptomatology," (p. 695) embodied in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV; 4th ed., American Psychiatric Association, 1994). They concluded that their "results support the use of the new dimensions." Yet, their regressions and diagnostic efficiency statistics showed that DSM diagnoses were predicted less well by their dimensions than by CBCL syndromes that reflect actual patterns of problems. Not only these findings, but also the high correlations of their dimensions with CBCL syndromes and the lack of norms and validated clinical cutoffs for their dimensions, argue against use of their dimensions. To advance assessment and taxonomy, new national samples have been used to construct DSM-oriented scales and to revise cross-informant syndromes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Rationally and empirically derived dimensions of children's symptomatology: Expert ratings and confirmatory factor analyses of the CBCL.

Expert ratings and confirmatory factor analyses were used to develop an alternative system for scoring the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL; T. M. Achenbach, 1991) to measure specific dimensions corresponding to current conceptualizations of child symptomatology. Data were from a nonclinic and 2 independent clinic samples. Subscales measuring Anxiety, Attention Problems/Hyperactivity, Conduct Problems, Depression, Oppositional Defiant, Social Problems/Immaturity, and Somatization were created. Logistic regressions were conducted to evaluate the diagnostic efficiency and discrimination of the new and original approaches to scoring the CBCL. Some of the new subscales demonstrated better sensitivity, positive predictive power, and discriminant validity than the original CBCL subscales; however, subscales from both approaches demonstrated low sensitivity. Results support the use of the new subscales for specific research purposes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Bedwetting and behavioural and/or emotional problems

OBJECTIVE: To assess the link between enuresis nocturna and the severity of behavioural and/or emotional problems in Dutch children and the course of these problems. SETTING: West-Mine Region in the Netherlands. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Prospective cohort study involving 66 of the 80 bedwetting children from all 1652 children born in 1983 in this region. After 1 y, contact was still possible with 64 of the enuretics. We used the Dutch version of the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL) and a questionnaire about bedwetting. RESULTS: The mean T-score for Total Problems (CBCL score) in 1992 (M1; mean age 8.6) was 52.1, and 1 y later was 49.2 (M2). There was no significant difference in the CBCL scores for M1, M2 and a matching group from the Dutch CBCL norm population, either in the group who remained wet or in the group who became dry. There were no differences between the sexes. There was no link between the severity of behavioural and emotional problems and the frequency of bedwetting. However, more children with bedwetting than expected were in the clinical range. CONCLUSION: There was no difference in behavioural and/or emotional problems between the first and the second measurement and the matching group from the CBCL norm group. There were no differences in behavioural and/or emotional problems between primary and secondary bedwetters, nor were there any consequences related to the frequency of bedwetting.     

Behavioral symptoms of children and adolescents in Germany, the Netherlands and USA. A cross-cultural study with the Child Behavior Checklist

The goal of the study was a cross-cultural comparison of the parent ratings of behavior problems of children and adolescents aged 4-18 years in Germany, The Netherlands and the United States using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). The analyses were undertaken in a German community sample (n = 1622) and a Dutch community sample (n = 2076). The results were compared with the data published by Achenbach for the national US sample. The analyses were based on the scales of the 1991 CBCL version and were performed for four age and sex groups (4- to 11-year-old boys/girls and 12- to 18-year-old boys/girls). In general, relatively minor differences could be detected between the three random samples. The range in the different samples was between -0.04 and 0.35, which is in line with other cross-cultural analyses using the CBCL. As long as no representative norms for Germany are available, the American norms can serve as an orientation for German studies using the CBCL.     

Assessment of dysregulated children using the Child Behavior Checklist: A receiver operating characteristic curve analysis.

Disorders of self-regulatory behavior are common reasons for referral to child and adolescent clinicians. Here, the authors sought to compare 2 methods of empirically based assessment of children with problems in self-regulatory behavior. Using parental reports on 2,028 children (53% boys) from a U.S. national probability sample of the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL; T. M. Achenbach & L. A. Rescorla, 2001), the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was applied to compare scores on the Posttraumatic Stress Problems Scale (PTSP) of the CBCL with the CBCL Dysregulation Profile (DP), identified using latent class analysis of the Attention Problems, Aggressive Behavior, and Anxious/Depressed scales of the CBCL. The CBCL–PTSP score demonstrated an area under the curve of between .88 and .91 for predicting membership in the CBCL–DP profile for boys and for girls. These findings suggest that the CBCL–PTSP, which others have shown does not uniquely identify children who have been traumatized, does identify the same profile of behavior as the CBCL–DP. Therefore, the authors recommend renaming the CBCL–PTSP the Dysregulation Short Scale and provide some guidelines for the use of the CBCL–DP scale and the CBCL–PTSP in clinical practice. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The socioemotional behaviors of children with SLI: Social Adaptation or Social Deviance?

Two models of the relationship between socioemotional behavior and verbal abilities are compared: Social Adaptation and Social Deviance. The socioemotional integrity of 17 children with specific language impairment (SLI) and 20 unaffected children who were age-matched (AM) was examined using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and the Teacher's Report Form (TRF) at kindergarten and first grade. All CBCL and TRF syndrome scale means for both groups were within normal limits. Significant group x respondent interaction effects were observed; teachers, and not parents, rated the children with SLI as having more social and internalizing behavioral problems than their AM peers. Significant differences between groups were restricted to internalizing, social, and attention problems. Very little congruence or stability over time was observed in the clinical ratings. The outcomes support a Social Adaptation Model of socioemotional behavior and language impairment. Implications for the clinical management of children with SLI are discussed.     

Empirical evaluation of DSM-IV generalized anxiety disorder criteria in children and adolescents

Evaluated the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed. [DSM-IV], American Psychiatric Association, 1994) generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) criteria in children and adolescents. Clinic-referred children meeting criteria for DSM-IV GAD, those meeting criteria for another DSM-IV anxiety disorder, and normal children participated in a structured interview and completed self-report questionnaires. Groups were compared in terms of interview and self-report measures to examine convergent and discriminant validity. In addition, developmental differences, cross-informant symptom and syndrome agreement, and validity of parent and child report were determined. Finally, the symptoms comprising the GAD associated symptom criterion (Criterion C) were examined in terms of rate of endorsement and predictive power. Results showed that parameters of worry differentiated children with GAD from those with other anxiety disorders and controls. Developmental differences in the sample did not appear to necessitate a separate criteria set for the classification of generalized anxiety in children of this age. Symptoms from GAD Criterion C evidenced moderately high rates of endorsement and acceptable predictive power. Overall, the DSM-IV GAD criteria for children and adolescents are supported, but further evaluation is necessary before firm conclusions can be drawn.     

Diagnostic accuracy of the Child Behavior Checklist scales for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: A receiver-operating characteristic analysis.

The diagnostic accuracy of the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) scales for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were examined using receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Three logistic regression models were estimated in an initial sample of 121 children (aged 6–18 yrs) with and without ADHD. These models were then tested in a cross-validation sample (N?=?122) and among the 111 brothers and 108 sisters of the initial and cross-validation samples. In all 4 groups, the CBCL Attention Problems scale had the highest discriminating power for ADHD. Adding other scales did not increase the area under the curve of the ROC significantly. Findings suggest that the CBCL Attention Problems scale could serve as a rapid and useful screening instrument not only to help identify cases likely to meet criteria for ADHD in clinical settings, but also to identify cases of ADHD among the siblings of children with ADHD. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Hierarchical confirmatory factor analysis of the Child Behavior Checklist/4–18.

Hierarchical confirmatory factor analysis was used to evaluate the 2-factor 2nd-order structure of T. M. Achenbach's ( 1991 ) Child Behavior Checklist in a sample of 577 children who had been identified as having serious emotional disturbance. An alternative 1-factor 2nd-order model also was tested. Results supported T. M. Achenbach's model in which the broadband Internalizing factor was represented by the narrowband Withdrawn, Somatic, and Anxious/Depressed syndromes, and the broadband Externalizing factor was represented by the narrowband Delinquent and Aggressive syndromes. Consistent with T. M. Achenbach's model, the remaining narrowband syndromes (i.e., Social, Thought, Attention ) loaded equally on both broadband factors and should not be included in scoring either Internalizing or Externalizing. Fit of the 1-factor model also was good and only slightly poorer than the 2-factor model. Therefore, an overall score would be appropriate as a measure of global problem behavior. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The normative development of child and adolescent problem behavior.

The aim of this study was to identify normative developmental trajectories of parent-reported problems assessed with the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL; T. M. Achenbach, 1991) in a representative sample of 2,076 children aged 4 to 18 years from the general population. The trajectories were determined by multilevel growth curve analyses on the CBCL syndromes in a longitudinal multiple birth-cohort sample that was assessed 5 times with 2-year intervals. Most syndromes showed a linear increase or decrease with age or a curvilinear trajectory, except for thought problems. Trajectories for most syndromes differed for boys versus girls, except those for withdrawn, social problems, and thought problems. These normative developmental trajectories provide information against which developmental deviance in childhood and adolescence can be detected. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Factor analysis of the Children's Depression Inventory in a community sample.

The factor structure of the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI; M. Kovacs, 1992) was evaluated in a large community sample of 1,777 children and 924 adolescents. There were 5 first-order factors (Externalizing, Dysphoria, Self-Deprecation, School Problems, and Social Problems) for the child group; the adolescent group yielded the same 5 factors plus a 6th factor (Biological Dysregulation). Confirmatory factor analyses supported the stability and replicability of the obtained factor structures. Both samples yielded 2 higher order factors—Internalizing and Externalizing. The factors were compared with previous CDI factors identified for clinical (B. Weiss et al., 1991) and community (M. Kovacs, 1992) samples. Other notable findings included more boys reporting high scores (17 and above) on the CDI among the child sample, whereas, among adolescents more girls reported high scores (17 and above) on the total CDI as well as higher scores on the biological dysregulation factor. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Behavioral and emotional problems of students with learning disabilities, serious emotional disturbance, or both conditions

This study investigates the behavioral and emotional problems of children with learning disabilities (LD), serious emotional disturbance (SED), and LD/SED, using the Teacher Report Form (TRF) and Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). The sample consisted of 217 students with LD, 72 with SED, and 68 with SED/LD, ages 6 to 18 (mean age = 11.5). The students with SED were rated more impaired than the students with LD on all TRF scales except Attention Problems, and on three of the eight CBCL syndrome scales. The children with LD differed from those with SED mainly in terms of severity of problems, not with respect to type of problem. It is concluded that students with co-morbid LD and SED are underidentified and underserved in special education systems.     

A dimensional approach to the assessment of social competence in boys.

Mothers of 93 7–11 yr old boys seeking treatment for their sons' peer relationship problems completed the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). Factor analysis was used to identify subscales that tap social competence within the CBCL, the Social Skills Rating System for parents, and the Pupil Evaluation Inventory for teachers. Among the CBCL scales, only the Social Withdrawal scale and 1 Social Competence subscale tapped a Social Competence factor in common with Social Competence subscales from the other instruments. Combinations of CBCL scales resulted in improved classification of social competence over base rates. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The equivalence of the Child Behavior Checklist/1 1/2-5 across parent race/ethnicity, income level, and language.

This study examined the equivalence of the Child Behavior Checklist/1 1/2-5 (CBCL/1 1/2-5) in 682 parents of 2- to 4-year-old children stratified by parent race/ethnicity (African American, Latino, and non-Latino White), family income (low vs. middle-upper), and language version (Spanish vs. English). Externalizing Scale means differed by income and child gender. Internalizing Scale means differed by income and parent race/ethnicity. Differential item analyses showed that few items functioned differently by racial/ethnic, language, and income group. A confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated that the Externalizing Scale provided a good fit with the data across racial/ethnic and income groups. However, model fit was improved for the Internalizing Scale when factor weights were allowed to vary. Findings support the equivalence of the CBCL/1 1/2-5 when used with parents of low-income preschool children from African American and Latino backgrounds, although further study of the factor structure for the Internalizing Scale is recommended. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychometric characteristics of the Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS): reliability and factor structure for men and women

The goals of this study were to examine the factor structure of the Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS), to evaluate potential gender differences in factor composition, and to assess the reliability of the scale. The WURS was completed by 310 fathers and 305 mothers of children referred for evaluation of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). For males, a five-factor solution (Conduct Problems, Learning Problems, Stress Intolerance, Attention Problems, Poor Social Skills/Awkward) accounted for 72 percent of the variance. There was also a five-factor solution for females (Dysphoria, Impulsive/Conduct, Learning Problems, Attention and Organizational Problems, Unpopular) which accounted for 71 percent of the variance. Symptoms of inattention and impulsivity loaded on separate factors for both men and for women. Test-retest reliability was examined with a different sample of 57 adults who completed the WURS on two separate occasions, 1 month apart. The WURS demonstrated satisfactory internal consistency and temporal stability, and it may be a useful tool for the study of ADHD in adults.     

Parent-Adolescent Disagreement Regarding Psychopathology in Adolescents From the General Population as a Risk Factor for Adverse Outcome.

This study investigated whether parent-adolescent disagreement regarding adolescents' behavioral and emotional problems predicted adverse outcome. A Dutch sample of 15- to 18-year-olds was prospectively followed across a 4-year interval. The Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL: T. M. Achenbach, 1997) and Youth Self-Report (YSR; T. M. Achenbach, 1991b) were administered at initial assessment, and the following signs of poor outcome were assessed 4 years later: police/judicial contacts, expulsion from school/job, suicidal ideation, unwanted pregnancy, suicide attempts, deliberate self-harm, referral to mental health services, report of having a behavioral or emotional problem, and feeling the need for professional help without actually receiving help. Twenty CBCL syndrome scores, 23 YSR syndrome scores, and 16 discrepancy scores were significant predictors of poor outcome. It was concluded that to determine the prognosis of psychopathology in adolescents, discrepancies between informants may be important. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Evaluation of the Brief Problem Checklist: Child and caregiver interviews to measure clinical progress.

Objective: To support ongoing monitoring of child response during treatment, we sought to develop a brief, easily administered, clinically relevant, and psychometrically sound measure. Method: We first developed child and caregiver forms of a 12-item Brief Problem Checklist (BPC) interview by applying item response theory and factor analysis to Youth Self-Report (YSR; Achenbach & Rescorla, 2001) and Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL;Achenbach & Rescorla, 2001) data for a sample of 2,332 youths. These interviews were then administered weekly via telephone to an ethnically diverse clinical sample of 184 boys and girls 7–13 years of age and their caregivers participating in outpatient treatment, to examine psychometric properties and feasibility. Results: Internal consistency and test–retest reliability were excellent, and factor analysis yielded 1 internalizing and 1 externalizing factor. Validity tests showed large and significant correlations with corresponding scales on paper-and-pencil administrations of the CBCL and YSR as well as with diagnoses obtained from a structured diagnostic interview. Discriminant validity of the BPC interviews was supported by low correlations with divergent criteria. Longitudinal data for the initial 6 months of treatment demonstrated that the BPC significantly predicted change on related measures of child symptoms. Estimates obtained from random coefficient growth models showed generally higher slope reliabilities for the BPC given weekly relative to the CBCL and YSR given every 3 months. Conclusions: Given their combination of brevity and psychometric strength, the child and caregiver BPC interviews appear to be a promising strategy for efficient, ongoing assessment of clinical progress during the course of treatment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)