Psychometric Properties of the Devereux Scales of Mental Disorders

Abstract

The Devereux Scales of Mental Disorders (DSMD) is a relatively new rating scale intended to be used in the assessment of behavioral and emotional problems in children. In this study, several psychometric properties of the DSMD were investigated. The authors of the DSMD developed six separate subscales through factor analytic procedures. This study attempted to replicate these scales. A factor analysis was conducted, and at each age range the scale covers (5-12 and 13-18) five factors as opposed to six factors were retained. Although the factor structure in this study did not replicate the factor structure reported by the scale authors, both the factors obtained in this study and the subscales developed by the authors have adequate internal consistency reliabilities, and children classified as seriously emotionally disturbed scored higher on all factors and subscales than did children not classified as such. These results are discussed within the context of how this scale may best be used in practice.