An Exploration of CBCL Scales in a High Risk Population

Abstract

The present study aimed to determine the predictive validity for later onset of psychiatric disorder(s) in individuals at high risk for such disorders, the Child Behavioral Check List (CBCL). Participants were 204 offspring of parents with schizophrenia (HRSz, N-52), offspring of parents with affective disorders (HRAff, N=38), and offspring of normal control parents (NC, N=114). Parents completed interviews that included CBCL items. Responses from interview questions were transformed into CBCL ratings. Offspring designated by parental diagnostic groups were compared on CBCL scores and available outcome diagnosis information for these high-risk offspring, now in adulthood. The CBCL scales were found to successfully differentiate HRAff offspring from the HRSz and NC (F2,199=6054, p<.002) offspring, as well as differentiate offspring who had later diagnosis of adulthood psychiatric disorder from offspring without psychiatric disorder (F2,199=7.92, p<.001), on numerous scales.