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The child behavior checklist PTSD scale: screening for PTSD in young children with high exposure to trauma

Joanne Loeb1, Erin M Stettler, Traci Gavila

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University. joanne.loeb@einstein.yu.edu

Journal of Traumatic Stress
|July 23, 2011
PubMed

Insights

The Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) subscale is not a reliable tool for screening PTSD in young children. The study found it lacked sufficient sensitivity and specificity for this population.

Area of Science:

  • Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Clinical Psychology

Background:

  • Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) significantly impacts young children's mental health.
  • Accurate screening tools are crucial for early intervention in pediatric mental health settings.
  • The Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) subscale is a potential screening instrument.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the validity of the CBCL-PTSD subscale for screening PTSD in preschool-aged children.
  • To compare the CBCL-PTSD subscale's performance against established diagnostic criteria and measures.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 51 preschool-aged children with high trauma exposure receiving psychotherapy for PTSD was assessed.
  • The 15-item CBCL-PTSD subscale was compared with the UCLA-PTSD Index and clinical diagnoses (DSM-IV and DC:0-3).

Main Results:

  • PTSD diagnoses varied significantly: 24% by DC:0-3 criteria versus 4% by DSM-IV criteria.
  • The CBCL-PTSD subscale demonstrated insufficient sensitivity and specificity.
  • The CBCL-PTSD subscale was not found to be a valuable screening tool for PTSD in this population.

Conclusions:

  • The CBCL-PTSD subscale is not a recommended screening tool for PTSD in young children attending inner-city mental health centers.
  • Further research may be needed to develop or validate effective screening measures for pediatric PTSD.
  • Clinical judgment and comprehensive diagnostic assessments remain essential for accurate PTSD diagnosis in children.

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