The DSM-III-R field trial of disruptive behavior disorders

The members of the DSM-III-R Advisory Committee responsible for the diagnostic criteria for the disruptive behavior disorders (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, and conduct disorder) were able to reach agreement on potential items to be included in the final diagnostic criteria. However, there was considerable disagreement about the relative utility of different items for the three disorders and no agreement on how many items should be required from a final list of discriminating items to establish each of the diagnoses. This article describes the method and results of a national field trial of the proposed criteria. Using as a standard the diagnosis of these disorders made by expert clinicians with experience with these disorders, the diagnostic criteria that were finally included in DSM-III-R demonstrated high sensitivity, specificity, and internal consistency.