Initial validation of the functional impairment scale for children and adolescents

Objective: Two studies assessed the validity of the Functional Impairment S cale for Children and Adolescents (FISCA), a multidimensional parent-report questionnaire. Method: In study 1, quasi-exploratory and confirmatory proc edures tested whether FISCA data for 804 inpatients (mean age = 13.4, 456 b oys), collected October 1994 through December 1995, fit a 3-factor model. S tudy 2 (n = 330) used survival and discriminant analyses to predict recidiv ism status at 3 and 6 months followup from FISCA scores at intake. Results: The 8 FISCA scales reduced to 3 factors describing undercontrolled aggress ion, social role violations, and self-focused aspects of child functional i mpairment. Serious impairment on the Aggression and School scales each pred icted a 3-fold increase in recidivism risk. Together, impairment scores for Aggression, School, Thinking, and Delinquency correctly identified 73% of the recidivists. However, 51% of the nonrecidivists also were classified as recidivists. Conclusions: Although these data initially support the FISCA' s validity, they underscore the need for more effective strategies to ident ify severely impaired children whose problems will be sporadic or short-liv ed.