Screening for behavioral and emotional problems in primary care pediatrics.

Case identification indexes based on the mother-completed Missouri Children's Behavior Checklist (MCBC) were compared with pediatrician identification of behavioral and emotional problems in 41 children seen for well-child examinations. Case identification indexes also were examined as a function of child gender and age and maternal education. The criterion was presence of DSM-III diagnoses determined through Child Assessment Schedule interviews of child or mother. The MCBC yielded better case identification indexes and improvements in both overidentification and underidentification rates. Pediatrician identification indexes were directly related to maternal education and MCBC identification indexes were inversely related to child age. The findings indicate the necessity for including child report, as well as mother report, in screening procedures that are incorporated into primary care pediatric practice.