1. Diagnosing Childhood Thought Disorder: Do Parent Checklists Yield False Positives?
- Author
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Longeway, K., Johnson, S., Garwood, M., and Davis, L.
- Abstract
This study examined the validity of using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) Thought Problem sub-scale with urban low-income children (N=46) referred to a hospital-based mental health clinic. It was hypothesized that cultural, linguistic, or socio-economic status (SES) factors may influence the manner in which parents understand and respond to items on the Thought Problem Scale. Preliminary analysis of CBCL data indicated that more than 33% of the children were in the clinical range for thought problems in contrast to less than 5% of the same sample who were diagnosed by a clinical psychiatrist or therapist. The CBCL items that appear sensitive to misinterpretation concern what constitutes strange behavior, whether or not a child continuously repeats things, and whether a child sees imaginary things. It appears that low SES parents many over-endorse these items. Parents are more often incorrect in their interpretation of critical items for thought problems. Caution must be taken when interpreting parent questionnaires from a sample of low SES parents, where the questions addressed may not be understood as intended. This consequence can lead to over-identification of serious psychopathology in these children. (JDM)
- Published
- 2000