Convergence of Empirically Derived and DSM-Based Dimensions of Psychopathology in Children and Adolescents

Background Both empirically derived and DSM-based dimensions of psychopathology in children and adolescents have been developed. This study analyzes the convergence of the dimensions of an empirically derived broadband questionnaire with the dimensions of DSM-based instruments developed according to DSM-5/ICD-10 criteria. Methods In a clinical sample of children and adolescents aged between 6;0 and 18;11 years, we analyzed the convergence of the Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment (ASEBA) with the DSM-based scales from the Diagnostic System for Mental Disorders in Children and Adolescents (DISYPS) across three informants (parents, teachers, and youth) for the following disorders: depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, trauma and stress-related disorders, oppositional defiant and conduct disorders, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and autism spectrum and social communication disorders. Results Overall, we found a convergence between the empirically derived ASEBA scales and the highly corresponding DSM-based DISYPS scales covering similar symptoms and problems. For the high-corresponding ASEBA syndrome scales, the mean correlations regarding item content ranged from r = .69 (parent report) to r = .75 (teacher report), while for the low-corresponding scales, the mean correlations ranged from r = .30 (parent report and teacher report) to r = .39 (youth report). Conclusions Overall, we found substantial convergence between the DSM-defined scales and the evidence-based syndrome scales. Empirically derived dimensions of psychopathology converge in this clinical dataset of children and adolescents according to both the top-down principle, i.e. the DSM and ICD diagnostic classification systems, and the bottom-up principle, i.e. the empirically derived ASEBA system. Trial registration: The dataset used in this analysis was generated over time by the regular registration process at admission to the psychotherapeutic outpatient unit of the Center of Child and Adolescent Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CeKiP), Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany. Therefore, no trial registration was applicable.