title: External validity of the new Devereux Adolescent Behavior Rating scales.
abstract: The discriminant and concurrent validity of the five new scales for the Devereux Adolescent Behavior Rating Scale (DAB) was explored using a heterogeneous sample of psychiatric and substance abuse patients. Consistent with predictions, the substance abuse patients scored higher on the Acting Out Behaviors (AOB) and Heterosexual Interests (HI) scales, and psychiatric patients scored higher on the Psychotic Behaviors scale. Gender differences also were found, including boys being rated higher on Acting Out Behaviors, and girls higher on Heterosexual Interests. The new DAB scales demonstrated sufficient concurrent validity using a thorough record review and a patient rating scale (the Child Behavior Checklist [CBCL]). The Neurotic/Dependent Behaviors scale (NDB) showed a consistent relationship with substance abuse and several other measures of more externalizing behaviors, in addition to the predicted relationships with anxious, tense, and dependent behaviors. The Withdrawn/Timid Behaviors scale (WTB) proved to be a purer measure of internalizing behaviors in both sexes.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455.
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Y S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Ben-Porath
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Uchiyama
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Weed
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Archer
mesh_terms: D000184:Acting Out; D000293:Adolescent; D003419:Crisis Intervention; D003631:Day Care, Medical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D010556:Personality Tests; D011594:Psychometrics; D012114:Residential Treatment; D012920:Social Behavior Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D012931:Social Environment; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology