Evaluating Behavioral and Emotional Disorders with the CBCL, TRF, and YSR Cross-Informant Scales

A model of multiaxial empirically based assessment is described that incorporates standardized rating scales for obtaining parent, teacher, and self-reports of behavioral and emotional problems. Special emphasis is placed on the cross-informant scales of the 1991 scoring profiles for the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), Teacher's Report Form (TRF), and Youth Self-Report (YSR). Their application to the federal special education definition of Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED) is illustrated in a case example. Data from multiple sources are applied to criteria for SED to determine eligibility for special education services.