Accuracy of the DSM-Oriented Attention Problem Scale of the Child Behavior Checklist in Diagnosing Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

• Published in: Journal of attention disorders Vol. 13; no. 5; pp. 454 - 463
• Main Authors: Aebi, Marcel, Winkler Metzke, Christa, Steinhausen, Hans-Christoph
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.03.2010
• Subjects: Adolescent; Area Under Curve; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - diagnosis; Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder; Check Lists; Checklist - standards; Child; Child Behavior; Child Behavior Checklist; Child Behavior Disorders - diagnosis; Clinical Diagnosis; Female; Humans; Identification; Male; Measures (Individuals); Multivariate Analysis; Patients; Prediction; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales - standards; Psychiatry; Raw Scores; Regression Analysis; Severity of Illness Index; Sex Factors; Surveys and Questionnaires; prediction; ADHD; Child Behavior Checklist; attention problems
• ISSN: 1087-0547; 1557-1246
• DOI: 10.1177/1087054708325739

Objective: The present study aimed at testing the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) including an adapted five-item DSM-Oriented Attention Problem Scale for predicting attention deficit hyperactivity disorders (ADHD). Methods: CBCL ratings were made both in a community sample (N = 390) and an outpatient child psychiatric sample (N = 392). Four different prediction models were analyzed in a community subsample (n = 195) and an outpatient subsample (n = 196) and cross-validated in two further subsamples of the same size. Results: The adapted DSM-Oriented Attention Problem Scale was superior to the original Attention Problem Scale in the identification of ADHD participants. A raw score of 5 to 6 on the reduced DSM-Oriented Attention Problem Scale was the best discriminator between cases and noncases. Conclusions: The adapted DSM-Oriented Attention Problem Scale of the CBCL is a useful screening instrument for ADHD with adequate diagnostic accuracy in community and outpatient samples. (J. of Att. Dis. 2010; 13(5) 454-463)