The child behavior checklist broad-band scales predict subsequent psychopathology: A 5-year follow-up

To evaluate the utility of the Child Behavior Check list (CBCL) for identifying children of parents with panic disorder or major depression at high-risk for future psychopathology.

Baseline Internalizing and Externalizing CBCL T-scores were used to predict subsequent depressive, anxiety, and disruptive behavior disorders at a 5-year follow-up in children of parents with panic disorder, major depression, or neither disorder.

The Internalizing scale predicted subsequent agoraphobia, generalized anxiety disorder, separation anxiety disorder, and social phobia. In contrast, the Externalizing scale predicted subsequent disruptive behavior disorders and major depression.

The convergence of these results with previous findings based on structured diagnostic interviews suggests that the CBCL broad-band scales can inexpensively and efficiently help identify children at high risk for future psychopathology within a population of children already at risk by virtue of parental psychopathology.