Dimensional approach of social behaviour deficits in children. Preliminary validation study of the French version of the Children's Social Behaviour Questionnaire (CSBQ)

Social deficit is the core symptom of pervasive developmental disorder. In other child psychiatric disorders, social problems are also described but mainly as a result of the disease symptomatology. However, some recent studies suspect that in several disorders such as attention deficit hyperactive disorder, patients have an endogenous social disturbance. The aim of our research was to study abnormal child social behaviour in several disorders, using a dimensional approach. It is a preliminary validation study of the French version of the Children's Social Behaviour Questionnaire, a dimensional instrument constructed by Luteijn, Minderaa et al. Five clinical groups, according to the DSM IV criteria, formed a population of 103 children aged 6 to 16 years old: autistic disorder, attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD), emotional disorder (anxious, depressed), mental retardation and normal children. Parents completed the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL) and the Children's Social Behaviour Questionnaire (CSBQ). The research worker and the child's physician completed a data form. The data form included information about medical history, development and socio-demographic criteria. The CBCL explored children's behaviours and general psychopathology, and included social dimensions (withdrawn, social problems, aggressive/delinquent behaviours, thought problems). The CSBQ, a dimensional questionnaire, explored children's social behaviours and included five dimensions: , , , , . The English version of the CSBQ, validated with in the Netherlands Dutch population was translated into French and the translation was validated (double back translation). As the CBCL and CSBQ questionnaires are both dimensional instruments, dimensions have been compared. All instrument results were analysed separately; correlations and comparisons were made between groups. Correlations between CSBQ and CBCL dimensions are consistent. Positive correlations exist for: dimension with , and ; with and ; with and ; with , and ; social stereotypes>> with . Mean CSBQ results are as follows: 1. autistic group has the highest score for th