The child behavior checklist broad-band scales predict subsequent psychopathology: A 5-year follow-up

Objective: To evaluate the utility of the Child Behavior Check list (CBCL) for identifying children of parents with panic disorder or major depression at high-risk for future psychopathology. Methods: Baseline Internalizing and Externalizing CBCL T-scores were used to predict subsequent depressive, anxiety, and disruptive behavior disorders at a 5-year follow-up in children of parents with panic disorder, major depression, or neither disorder. Results: The Internalizing scale predicted subsequent agoraphobia, generalized anxiety disorder, separation anxiety disorder, and social phobia. In contrast, the Externalizing scale predicted subsequent disruptive behavior disorders and major depression. Conclusions: The convergence of these results with previous findings based on structured diagnostic interviews suggests that the CBCL broad-band scales can inexpensively and efficiently help identify children at high risk for future psychopathology within a population of children already at risk by virtue of parental psychopathology.