---
title: The CBCL and YSR instruct the respondent to base ratings on the previous 6 months.  What if a form is to be readministered over intervals of less than 6 months?
description: "Answer:  The 6-month instruction can be shortened to suit the interval being used.  If the"
url: "https://answers.aseba.org/post/the-cbcl-and-ysr-instruct-the-respondent-to-base-ratings-on-the-previous-6-months-what-if-a-form-is-to-be-readministered-over-intervals-of-less-than-6-months/"
updated: "2024-02-01"
category: ASEBA Forms
tags:
  - "CBCL 6-18"
  - School Age Forms
  - "YSR 6-18"
---

# The CBCL and YSR instruct the respondent to base ratings on the previous 6 months.  What if a form is to be readministered over intervals of less than 6 months?

**Answer:**  The 6-month instruction can be shortened to suit the interval being used.  If the interval is shortened much below 6 months, this may slightly reduce scores on some problem items and scales.  Low-frequency behaviors may also be missed if the rating interval is too short.  However, if reassessments are planned at intervals of less than 6 months, respondents should use the same shortened interval for the initial ratings as well as for each follow-up rating.  For example, if follow-up ratings are to be done after a 4-month interval, the initial rating should also be based on a 4-month period, so that the initial scores will not be higher than the follow-up scores merely because they span a longer rating period.  To allow time for behavioral changes to stabilize and to become clearly evident, reassessment intervals should generally span at least a month.