title: Four-year follow-up of an epidemiological sample.
abstract: In this 4-year follow-up of behavioral/emotional problems in an epidemiological sample of 1,200 children originally aged 4 to 12 years assessed with the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), high stability in the level of CBCL total problem scores was found. Stability of problem behavior was equally substantial for ages 4 to 12 and both sexes. Aggressive and other externalizing behaviors showed the highest stability. Even in children as young as 4 to 5 years, aggressive and attentional problems showed considerable stability. The results of the present study were informative with respect to methodology in indicating clearly that employing a mailing survey for obtaining parent reports on behavioral/emotional problems resulted in the selective exclusion of a group of especially problematic children who were recovered when parents were interviewed at home.
authors.affiliation: Sophia Children's Hospital, Erasmus University, Roterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: F C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Verhulst
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Koot
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Berden
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D010553:Personality Development