ERIC Number: EJ807022
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2005
Pages: 9
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1049-7315
EISSN: N/A
Use of the Child Behavior Checklist as a Diagnostic Screening Tool in Community Mental Health
Rishel, Carrie W.; Greeno, Catherine; Marcus, Steven C.; Shear, M. Katherine; Anderson, Carol
Research on Social Work Practice, v15 n3 p195-203 2005
Objective: This study examines whether the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) can be used as an accurate psychiatric screening tool for children in community mental health settings. Method: Associations, logistic regression models, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis were used to test the predictive relationship between the CBCL and structured interview-derived diagnoses. Results: Associations between CBCL subscales and specific diagnoses were found, replicating results of previous research. Multivariate models and ROC scoring led to correct diagnostic predictions in a large majority of participants. Corresponding sensitivities, however, were deemed inadequate as they indicated that the screen would miss an unacceptably high number of cases. Conclusions: Using the CBCL as a diagnostic screening tool would result in a large number of cases being missed by the screen. Although the CBCL is unlikely to accurately identify children with specific diagnoses, it could be used as a triage tool to inform practitioners if an in-depth structured diagnostic interview is necessary. (Contains 5 tables.)
Descriptors: Check Lists, Mental Health, Child Behavior, Behavior Problems, Screening Tests, Clinical Diagnosis, Community Health Services, Correlation, Interviews, Attention Deficit Disorders, Hyperactivity, Antisocial Behavior, Anxiety
SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: http://sagepub.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: N/A
Audience: Practitioners
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Child Behavior Checklist
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A