Daily behavior ratings among child and adolescent inpatients: The abbreviated child behavior rating form

Laurie A. Van Egeren, Susan J. Frank, Jennifer S. Paul

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: Child and adolescent psychiatric inpatient facilities are in need of standardized behavior rating scales to assess continuous change in patient behaviors. This study used daily staff ratings to examine the factor structure and psychometric properties of an abbreviated version of the Child Behavior Rating Form (CBRF-A). Method: Three hundred eighty-seven inpatients, aged 3 to 17 years, were rated daily by unit staff. Subsamples of patients and/or their parents completed additional measures of behavior problems (Child Behavior Checklist, Functional Impairment Scale for Children and Adolescents) to assess the instrument's validity. Results: Confirmatory factor analyses identified 5 behavior problem dimensions (Oppositionalism, Attention Problems, Overactivity, Withdrawal/Depression, and Anxiety), a second-order Externalizing dimension, and 2 positive behavior dimensions (Positive/Adaptive Social and Compliance/Self-Control). The scales were found to be internally consistent and showed expected age differences, and the scale factor structures were relatively stable over 1- and 2-week intervals. The scales correlated meaningfully with parent ratings of child behavior problems and functional impairment and were predictive of total hospital days. Conclusions: The psychometric properties of the CBRF-A appear adequate for daily inpatient rating; additional research is needed to determine the usefulness of the CBRF-A in assessing treatment and medication effects over the hospital stay.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1417-1425
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Volume38
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - 1999
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Assessment.
  • Behavior problems
  • Inpatient

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Daily behavior ratings among child and adolescent inpatients: The abbreviated child behavior rating form'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this