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Observational Assessment of Preschool Disruptive Behavior, Part I: reliability of the Disruptive Behavior Diagnostic

Lauren S Wakschlag1, Carri Hill2, Alice S Carter2

  • 1Drs. Wakschlag, Hill, Danis, and Leventhal, Ms. Maskowitz, and Mr. Burns are with the Institute for Juvenile Research, Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago; Dr. Keenan is with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Chicago; Dr. Egger is with the Department of Psychiatry, Duke University; Dr. Cicchetti is with the Department of Psychiatry, Yale University; Dr. Briggs-Gowan is with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut; and Dr. Carter is with the Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts..

Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
|April 25, 2008
PubMed

Insights

The Disruptive Behavior Diagnostic Observation Schedule (DB-DOS) is a reliable tool for assessing disruptive behavior in preschoolers. This observational method accurately measures behavioral regulation and anger modulation in young children.

Area of Science:

  • Child Psychology
  • Developmental Psychopathology
  • Behavioral Assessment

Background:

  • Preschool disruptive behavior presents diagnostic challenges.
  • Observational methods are crucial for accurate assessment.
  • Existing tools may lack standardization for clinic-based settings.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the reliability of the Disruptive Behavior Diagnostic Observation Schedule (DB-DOS).
  • To establish DB-DOS as a dependable tool for assessing disruptive behavior in preschoolers.
  • To validate a new structured observational method for early childhood psychopathology.

Main Methods:

  • The DB-DOS is a structured, clinic-based assessment observing 21 disruptive behaviors in preschoolers.
  • Behavior was coded across three interactional contexts (partner, support level).
  • Interrater, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability were assessed in samples totaling 364 children.

Main Results:

  • The DB-DOS exhibited strong interrater and test-retest reliability.
  • Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed an excellent fit for the DB-DOS multidomain model.
  • The assessment effectively captured behavioral regulation and anger modulation issues.

Conclusions:

  • The DB-DOS is a reliable observational instrument for clinic-based assessment of preschool disruptive behavior.
  • This standardized tool shows promise for improving the characterization of preschool psychopathology.
  • DB-DOS supports developmentally sensitive diagnostic practices in early childhood.
Abstract

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