Validity of the Child Behavior Checklist-Persian Version in a Community Sample of Iranian Youths

Objective: The Child behavior checklist (CBCL) is a comprehensive symptom rating scale in child and adolescent psychiatry and a major instruments being used in cross-cultural studies. This study was done to determine the symptom profile of a community sample of Iranian youths using the CBCL-Persian version. Methods: Through a random probability sampling, five clusters in four central geographic regions of Tehran were selected. After obtaining parents' informed consents, the parents accomplished CBCL forms and the demographic questionnaires. Their children were interviewed by two board certified child and adolescent psychiatrists to evaluate any psychiatric disorders in them. Statistical analysis was done using the T-test and regression analysis. Calculation of sensitivity, specificity, and, Overall misclassification error (OMR) was used to find the appropriate cut-off point. Results: Two hundred three children and adolescents were evaluated (46.3% female) with mean age of 12.01 years (SD=3.63). Of them, 21.2% had psychiatric disorders. Boys had significantly higher scores in Attention Problem, Delinquent Behavior, Aggressive Behavior, and Externalizing (p=0.01). The scores of Somatic Complaints, Thought Problems and Internalizing were significantly higher in boys (p=0.05). The cut point of 35 had the best sensitivity and specificity, and of the least OMR. Conclusion: Most results of our study were consistent with the literature on CBCL in diverse countries. This confirms the validity of the CBCL to be used in child and adolescent psychiatry studies.