Development and validation of the Conduct Disorder Rating Scale

Several rating scales for measuring externalizing problems in children are inconsistent with widely used diagnostic criteria for conduct disorder (CD). The Conduct Disorder Rating Scale (CDRS) was developed to provide valid measures of CD in children age 5 to 12 years. In Study 1, the CDRS was evaluated in a community sample of 1,554 children. Parents and teachers showed modest agreement in their ratings and children's age and gender differences were consistent with epidemiological trends. In Study 2, the CDRS was evaluated in a clinical sample of 80 children who were assessed for a summer treatment program. The parent version of the CDRS showed 78.8% accuracy in identifying CD against a diagnostic interview, and both parent and teacher versions of the CDRS were significantly associated with observations of antisocial behavior. Although further research with this new tool is warranted, results indicated that the CDRS is well suited to observational and clinical studies of CD.