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DSM-IV Internal Construct Validity: When a Taxonomy Meets Data

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 October 2001

Catharina A. Hartman ,
Joop Hox ,
Gideon J. Mellenbergh ,
Michael H. Boyle ,
David R. Offord ,
Yvonne Racine ,
Jane McNamee ,
Kenneth D. Gadow ,
Joyce Sprafkin  and
Kevin L. Kelly
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Catharina A. Hartman
Affiliation:
University of Groningen, The Netherlands
Joop Hox
Affiliation:
Utrecht University, The Netherlands
Gideon J. Mellenbergh
Affiliation:
University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Michael H. Boyle
Affiliation:
McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
David R. Offord
Affiliation:
McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
Yvonne Racine
Affiliation:
McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
Jane McNamee
Affiliation:
McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
Kenneth D. Gadow
Affiliation:
State University of New York, Stony Brook, U.S.A.
Joyce Sprafkin
Affiliation:
State University of New York, Stony Brook, U.S.A.
Kevin L. Kelly
Affiliation:
State University of New York, Stony Brook, U.S.A.
Edith E. Nolan
Affiliation:
State University of New York, Stony Brook, U.S.A.
Rosemary Tannock
Affiliation:
Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
Russell Schachar
Affiliation:
Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
Harry Schut
Affiliation:
Regional Institute for Mental Welfare, The Hague, The Netherlands
Ingrid Postma
Affiliation:
Regional Institute for Mental Welfare, Hoorn, The Netherlands
Rob Drost
Affiliation:
De Jutter, The Hague, The Netherlands
Joseph A. Sergeant
Affiliation:
Free University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Abstract

The use of DSM-IV based questionnaires in child psychopathology is on the increase. The internal construct validity of a DSM-IV based model of ADHD, CD, ODD, Generalised Anxiety, and Depression was investigated in 11 samples by confirmatory factor analysis. The factorial structure of these syndrome dimensions was supported by the data. However, the model did not meet absolute standards of good model fit. Two sources of error are discussed in detail: multidimensionality of syndrome scales, and the presence of many symptoms that are diagnostically ambiguous with regard to the targeted syndrome dimension. It is argued that measurement precision may be increased by more careful operationalisation of the symptoms in the questionnaire. Additional approaches towards improved conceptualisation of DSM-IV are briefly discussed. A sharper DSM-IV model may improve the accuracy of inferences based on scale scores and provide more precise research findings with regard to relations with variables external to the taxonomy.

Keywords

Classificationconstruct validityDSMfactor analysisquestionnairessymptomatology
Type
Paper
Information
The Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and Allied Disciplines , Volume 42 , Issue 6 , September 2001 , pp. 817 - 836
Copyright
© 2001 Association for Child Psychology and Psychiatry

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