The ability of YSR scales to predict DSM/DISC-C psychiatric disorders among incarcerated male adolescents

To investigate whether the empirical or DSM-oriented scales of the Youth Self-Report (YSR) can be used to screen for DSM psychiatric disorders among incarcerated boys. DSM-oriented scales have recently been developed by Achenbach to enhance comparability of YSR results with DSM diagnostic categories. A representative sample (N = 196) of incarcerated boys aged 12-18 was assessed with the child version of the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children (DISC-C) to diagnose DSM psychiatric disorders, and with the Youth Self-Report (YSR). Only 22% had YSR total problem scores in the clinical range, whereas 90 % met criteria of at least one DSM/DISC-C psychiatric disorder. Weak associations between both empirical and DSM-oriented YSR scale scores and DSM/DISC-C diagnoses were found. Neither the empirical nor the DSM-oriented YSR scales adequately screen for DSM/DISC-C psychiatric disorders among incarcerated boys. The use of the YSR and the DISC-C to assess DSM constructs results in, at least partially, different diagnostic information.