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A Psychometric Analysis of the Child Behavior Checklist DSM-Oriented Scales

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Abstract

The Child Behavior Checklist for Ages 6–18 (CBCL/6-18) possesses newly developed DSM-Oriented Scales, constructed through expert clinical judgment to match selected categories for behavioral/emotional problems as described in the DSM-IV. The present investigation examined the basic psychometric properties for all six DSM-Oriented Scales (i.e., Affective, Anxiety, Somatic, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity, Oppositional, and Conduct Scales) in a large clinical sample of children and adolescents (N = 673). Findings from the present study provide strong evidence for the reliability, as well as convergent and discriminative validity, of these scales. It appears that the DSM-Oriented Scales may provide accurate supplementary information that may be considered when formulating clinical diagnoses.

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Notes

  1. It is important to note that no “gold standard” exists for determining diagnoses. Moreover, the question of whether the described disorders are in fact categorical (as in the DSM) or dimensional (as measured by CBCL scale scores) is one of active debate (e.g., Haslam, 2003).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, 2430 Campus Road, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA

    Brad J. Nakamura

  2. University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Chad Ebesutani, Adam Bernstein & Bruce F. Chorpita

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  1. Brad J. Nakamura
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  2. Chad Ebesutani
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  3. Adam Bernstein
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  4. Bruce F. Chorpita
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Correspondence to Brad J. Nakamura.

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Nakamura, B.J., Ebesutani, C., Bernstein, A. et al. A Psychometric Analysis of the Child Behavior Checklist DSM-Oriented Scales. J Psychopathol Behav Assess 31, 178–189 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10862-008-9119-8

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