CBCL and TRF as predictors of clinician diagnosed ADHD and anxiety.

Abstract

The Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and the Teachers Report Form (TRF) are screening instruments and they are parent and teacher-rated forms on observed behavior of children or adolescents. In our study, we want to test if the CBCL and TRF are sensitive in predicting clinician’s diagnosis with regards to Anxiety and Depression as an example of Internalizing Behavior and ADHD as an example of Externalizing Behavior. We retrieved data from a sample taken from clinical files of 1000 children in the year 2006 from archival data obtained from the Child Guidance Clinic, Health Promotion Board in Singapore and we found that the CBCL and TRF are both effective in predicting ADHD but not in predicting Anxiety and Depression.