Exploration of psychometric properties of the developmental behavior checklist

The Developmental Behavior Checklist (DBC; Einfeld & Tonge, 1995) is one of a very small number of psychopathology assessment instruments designed spe cifically for use with children and adolescents with mental retardation. In the present study, a factor analysis of the DBC was performed using a samp le of 531 children and adolescents. This analysis revealed a factor structu re sharing a good deal of overlap with the factor analyses of the DBC's dev elopers. Furthermore, the high levels of internal consistency of the DBC su bscales were replicated. Further research and development is needed on the DBC and other instruments for children and adolescents with mental retardat ion.