The CBCL dysregulated profile: an indicator of pediatric bipolar disorder or of psychopathology severity?
BACKGROUND
To evaluate whether the Child Behavior Checklist Dysregulated Profile (CBCL-DP) can be used as an effective predictor of psychopathological severity as indicated by suicidality and comorbidities, as well as a predictor of pediatric bipolar disorder (PBD).


METHODS
CBCL-DP scores for 397 youths seeking treatment for mood disorders were calculated by summing the t-scores of the Anxious/Depressed, Aggressive Behaviors, and Attention Problems subscales such that a clinical cut-off of 210 was used to indicate the presence of a dysregulated profile. Suicidality and an increased number of diagnoses were used as markers of illness severity.


RESULTS
Those with a dysregulated profile presented more severe suicidal ideation when compared to those without the profile. They also had a significantly larger number of Axis I diagnoses. Groups did not differ in the amount of individuals diagnosed with PBD.


CONCLUSIONS
Suicidal ideation was assessed by a third-party informant and not from the youths themselves. No other forms of suicidal behavior such as self-harm or suicide attempt were measured. Also there may not be complete convergence between parental reports on behavior and youth reports, which might have affected the results.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that the CBCL-DP is an effective indicator of psychopathological severity through its association with more comorbidities and more severe suicidality. Earlier detection of psychopathological severity through an initial screening tool could aid clinicians in planning treatment and providing quicker and more structured care based on the client's needs.
Standard Life Centre for Breakthroughs in Teen Depression and Suicide Prevention, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill Group for Suicide Studies, McGill University, Montréal, Canada. Electronic address: mbeval@douglas.mcgill.ca.
Valentin
V
Mbekou
Philippe Pinel Institute, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada.
Martin
M
Gignac
Psychology Department, Concordia University, Montréal, Canada.
Sasha
S
MacNeil
Psychology Department, McGill University, Montréal, Canada.
Pamela
P
Mackay
Standard Life Centre for Breakthroughs in Teen Depression and Suicide Prevention, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill Group for Suicide Studies, McGill University, Montréal, Canada.
Johanne
J
Renaud
D000293:Adolescent; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D011599:Psychopathology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology
Child Behavior Checklist; Comorbidity; Dysregulated profile; Pediatric bipolar disorder; Severity; Suicidal ideation