The advanced psychometric properties of turkish SDQ

Aim: The aim is of this study is to evaluate the advanced psychometric properties of TurkishSDQ.Method: The sample consists of 565 cases aged between 4 and 17 who applied Dokuz EylülUniversity Faculty of Medicine, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department between01.01.2005 and 31.12.2005 for the first time and whose SDQ, (scored before clinicalassessment) were evaluated to be included in this study. The diagnosis predicted by the SDQwere compared with the diagnosis predicted by clinical assessment and the psychometricproperties of SDQ were evaluated.Results: The results indicated that the parent and self-report SDQ had high internalconsistency except peer problems subscale. The correlation value between the SDQ formsscored by children and adolescents over age 11, and the same cases? parent forms? totaldifficulties score, impact score and subgroup scores was between 0.402 and 0.573. In thegroup of all cases; the correlation score between psychiatric diagnosis predicted by SDQ andthe diagnosis predicted by clinical assessment varied between 0.15 and 0.34. SDQ parentand self report forms? total difficulties score, impact score and all the subscale scores (exceptSDQ self report form hyperactivity inattention score) were able to distinguish between thegroup which received a clinical diagnosis and the group which didn?t receive a clinicaldiagnosis.Conclusion: Turkish SDQ is proved to be a valid and reliable scale and it can be used inscreening and assessment of clinical psychopathology in Turkish child and adolescentpopulation.Keywords: SDQ, psychometric properties, Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire.