Skip to main content
Log in

Classification of children's behavior problems: Clinical and quantitative approaches

  • Published:
Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Children diagnosed Conduct Disorder, Attention Deficit Disorder, or Anxiety Disorder by DSM-III criteria were compared to contrast groups of Physically Disabled and Normal children using the Conners Teacher Rating Scale (CTRS). Discriminant function analyses of the CTRS ratings yielded accurate classification (67% correct) only when Conduct was combined with Attention Deficit and Normals were combined with Physically Disabled. The teacher raters seemed to be describing the children as behaviorally disordered with and without hyperactivity. The data also suggest that Attention Deficit Disorder is part of a broader Conduct Problems dimension.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abikoff, H., Gittelman-Klein, R., & Klein, D. (1977). Validation of a classroom observation code for hyperactive children.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 45, 772–783.

    Google Scholar 

  • Achenbach, T., & Edelbrock, C. (1978). The classification of child psychopathology: A review and analysis of empirical efforts.Psychological Bulletin, 85, 1275–1301.

    Google Scholar 

  • American Psychiatrie Association. (1980).Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (3rd ed.). Washington, D.C.: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barkley, R. A. (1982). Guidelines for defining hyperactivity in children: Attention-deficit disorder with hyperactivity. In B. B. Lahey & A. E. Kazdin (Eds.),Advances in clinical child psychology (Vol. 5, pp. 137–180) New York: Plenum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, S. B., Schliefer, M., & Weiss, G. (1978). Continuities in maternal reports and child behaviors over time in hyperactive and comparison groups.Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 6, 33–45.

    Google Scholar 

  • Conners, C. K. (1969). A teacher rating scale for use in drug studies with children.American Journal of Psychiatry, 126, 884–888.

    Google Scholar 

  • Copeland, A. P., & Weissbrod, C. S. (1978). Behavioral correlates of the hyperactivity factor of the Conners Teacher Questionnaire.Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 6, 339–343.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goyette, C. H., Conners, C. K., & Ulrich, R. F. (1978). Normative data on revised Conners Parent and Teacher Rating Scales.Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 6, 221–236.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kendal, P. C., & Brophy, C. (1981). Activity and attentional correlates of teacher ratings of hyperactivity.Journal of Pediatrie Psychology, 6, 451–457.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klecka, W. R. (1980).Discriminant analysis. Beverly Hills: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lahey, B. B., Green, K. D., & Forehand, R. (1980). On the independence of ratings of hyper-activity, conduct problems, and attention deficits in children: A multiple regression analysis.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 48, 566–574.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nie, N. H., Hull, C. H., Jenkins, J. G., Steinbrenner, K., & Bent, D. H. (1975).Statistical package for the social sciences. New York: McGraw-Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prinz, R. J., Connor, P. A., & Wilson, R. J. (1981). Hyperactive and aggresive behavior in childhood: Intertwined dimensions.Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 9, 191–202.

    Google Scholar 

  • Quay, H. C. (1979). Classification. In H. C. Quay & J. S. Werry (Eds.),Psychopathological disorders of childhood (2nd ed.). New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sandberg, S. T., Rutter, M., & Taylor, E. (1978). Hyperkinetic disorders in psychiatrie clinic attenders.Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 20, 279–299.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sandberg, S. T., Wieselberg, M., & Shaffer, D. (1980). Hyperkinetic and conduct problem children in a primary school population: Some epidemiological considerations.Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 21, 293–311.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shaffer, D., & Greenhill, L. (1979). A critical note on the predictive validity of the “hyperkinetic syndrome.”Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 20, 61–72.

    Google Scholar 

  • Trites, R. L., & Laprade, K. (1983). Evidence for an independent syndrome of hyperactivity.Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 24, 573–586.

    Google Scholar 

  • Werry, J. S., Sprague, R. L., & Cohen, M. N. (1978). Conners Teacher Rating Scale for use in drug studies with children — An empirical study.Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 3, 217–241.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

This study was part of a dissertation submitted to the Graduate School, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, by the senior author in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Ph.D. This research was supported in part by Maternal and Child Health Grant No. 424 awarded to the UCLA Neuropsychiatrie Institute. The authors express their appreciation to Alexander Tymchuck, Ruth Lambert, Robert Oldham, Arlene Yoshima, Augustus Adams, Deborah Stez, and Carol McDermott.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Stein, M.A., O'Donnell, J.P. Classification of children's behavior problems: Clinical and quantitative approaches. J Abnorm Child Psychol 13, 269–279 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00910647

Download citation

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00910647

Keywords

Navigation