New Danish standardization of the Child Behaviour Checklist

In child mental health services, the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL) and related materials are internationally renowned psychometric questionnaires for assessment of children aged 6-16 years. The CBCL consists of three versions for different informants: the CBCL for parents, the Teacher's Report Form (TRF) and the Youth Self-Report (YSR) for 11-16-year-old children.

The CBCL was standardized in Denmark in 1996, but a need for renewed standardization has emerged because of an update in 2001 and possible cultural changes. We also wanted to increase the response rate and the validity of the national norms.

A total of 949 children from demographically representative schools and their parents were invited to participate. Response rates were high: CBCL 84% (n = 793), TRF 99% (n = 938) and YSR 89% (n = 434). The mean total problem scores, externalizing and internalizing scores, and diagnose-specific sub-scores are presented. Compared with the 1996 standardization, parents rate their children significantly lower in problem score, and the same pattern is found in teachers' ratings. The young, however, rate themselves higher than previously. Some differences in single-item prevalence have occurred. This may indicate a change in the perception of the problems rather than a shift in psychopathology.

New norm scores and cut-off scores have been generated, and the questionnaires are now available for on-line completion.