A DSM-IV-referenced teacher rating scale for use in clinical management.

OBJECTIVE: Two studies were conducted to examine the psychometric properties of a DSM-IV-referenced teacher-completed rating scale in children receiving special education. METHOD: To assess reliability, teachers rated 74 students on two separate occasions (test-retest) using the teacher version of the Child Symptom Inventory-4 (CSI-4T), and teacher aides also rated the children on the first occasion (interrater). In a second study, teacher CSI-4T and Teacher's Report Form (TRF) ratings and consultant diagnoses were obtained for 101 students. RESULTS: Internal consistency reliabilities (0.72-0.94), 2-week test-retest reliabilities (r = 0.61-0.88), and interrater agreement (r = 0.19-0.56) for the CSI-4T major symptom categories were comparable with dimensional rating scales. CSI-4T ratings showed a consistent pattern of convergent and divergent validity with TRF scores and with consultant diagnoses. CONCLUSION: Findings provide preliminary support for the reliability and validity of the CSI-4T as a measure of DSM-IV symptoms in children receiving special education.