What are the “DSM-oriented” scales?

Answer: Questions are often raised about relations between empirically-based assessment and the diagnostic categories of the American Psychiatric Association’s (1994) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DMS-IV).  The DSM-oriented scales scored from the CBCL/1.5-5 and C-TRF are based on experienced psychiatrists’ and psychologists’ ratings of the consistency of our problem items with DSM diagnostic categories that are relevant to preschoolers. By scoring our items in terms of the DSM-oriented scales, users can see how children compare with normative samples on problems that correspond to DSM diagnostic categories, as detailed in Chapter 4.  To determine whether children meet criteria for DSM diagnoses, users need to consult the DSM itself.