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.