NCJ Number
180743
Journal
Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Volume: 38 Issue: 12 Dated: December 1999 Pages: 1560-1568
Date Published
December 1999
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This paper reports on a Dutch study that investigated the stability and predictive strength of behavioral and emotional problems in childhood and adolescence.
Abstract
A referred sample (n=1,652), aged 4 to 18 years old at initial assessment, was followed up after a mean interval of 6.2 years. Problem scores derived from Child Behavior Checklist, Youth Self-Report, and Teacher's Report Form at initial assessment (T1) were related to scores on the same instruments at follow-up (T2). Study findings show correlations between T1 and corresponding T2 problem scores averaged 0.41 intra-informant (range 0.22-0.61) and 0.22 inter-informant (range -0.09-0.57). Stabilities were similar across gender and were larger for Externalizing versus Internalizing scores, except on youths' self-reports. Psychopathology scores at follow-up were predicted by corresponding T1 scores. Girls were predicted to have higher T2 Somatic Complaints, Anxious/Depressed, Thought Problems, and Internalizing scores than boys. Children younger at intake were predicted to have higher scores than older children on T2 Social and Attention Problems. The study concludes that findings show continuity of specific behavioral and emotional problems in clinically referred children and adolescents. 4 tables and 15 references