TY - JOUR
T1 - More than the terrible twos
T2 - The nature and severity of behavior problems in clinic-referred preschool children
AU - Keenan, Kate
AU - Wakschlag, Lauren S.
N1 - Funding Information:
This research could not have been achieved without the support of the Walden and Jean Young Shaw Foundation and the Irving B. Harris Center for Developmental Studies. Dr. Keenan’s participation also was supported by grant K01 MH-01484 from the National Institute of Mental Health. Dr. Wakschlag’s participation also was supported by grant K08-DA-0030-02 from the National Institute of Drug Abuse. We gratefully acknowledge Chaya Roth’s ongoing collaboration. Benjamin Lahey, Bennett Leventhal, and Susan Campbell provided valuable editorial comments. The authors would like to thank the clinical students and staff of the PBC and the mothers and children who participated in this study.
PY - 2000
Y1 - 2000
N2 - The primary goals of this study are to describe the nature and severity of disruptive behavior problems in clinic-referred preschoolers from low- income environments and to explore the validity of DSM-IV disruptive disorders for young children. We examine the relation between DSM-IV symptoms, standardized behavior checklists, and observational ratings as a means of exploring measurement validity in this age group. Seventy-nine clinic-referred preschoolers (ages 2 1/2 through 5 1/2 years) from low-income environments were assessed. To examine whether clinic-referred preschool children have symptoms that are consistent with DSM-IV disruptive behavior disorders, parents were administered a semistructured diagnostic interview, modified for developmentally appropriate usage. In addition, parents completed the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and children's behavior problems were assessed with observational ratings during parent-child interaction. Nearly half of the sample met criteria for conduct disorder, and three quarters met criteria for oppositional defiant disorder. Preliminary evidence for the validity of DSM-IV disruptive disorders in preschool children was demonstrated through association with CBCL scores, behavior ratings, and significant levels of impairment. Future efforts aimed at validating these diagnoses in preschoolers and implications for prevention are discussed.
AB - The primary goals of this study are to describe the nature and severity of disruptive behavior problems in clinic-referred preschoolers from low- income environments and to explore the validity of DSM-IV disruptive disorders for young children. We examine the relation between DSM-IV symptoms, standardized behavior checklists, and observational ratings as a means of exploring measurement validity in this age group. Seventy-nine clinic-referred preschoolers (ages 2 1/2 through 5 1/2 years) from low-income environments were assessed. To examine whether clinic-referred preschool children have symptoms that are consistent with DSM-IV disruptive behavior disorders, parents were administered a semistructured diagnostic interview, modified for developmentally appropriate usage. In addition, parents completed the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and children's behavior problems were assessed with observational ratings during parent-child interaction. Nearly half of the sample met criteria for conduct disorder, and three quarters met criteria for oppositional defiant disorder. Preliminary evidence for the validity of DSM-IV disruptive disorders in preschool children was demonstrated through association with CBCL scores, behavior ratings, and significant levels of impairment. Future efforts aimed at validating these diagnoses in preschoolers and implications for prevention are discussed.
KW - DSM-IV
KW - Disruptive behavior
KW - Early diagnosis
KW - Preschool
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U2 - 10.1023/A:1005118000977
DO - 10.1023/A:1005118000977
M3 - Article
C2 - 10772348
AN - SCOPUS:0034073264
SN - 0091-0627
VL - 28
SP - 33
EP - 46
JO - Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology
JF - Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology
IS - 1
ER -