Factor structure of the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale for Children (BPRS-C) among Hospital Patients and Community Clients

The factor structure, reliability and concurrent validity of the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale for Children (BPRS-C) was examined. The BPRS-C was designed to measure child psychopathology with seven scales consisting of three items each. Two large samples of intake assessments at admission to the public mental health system of state psychiatric hospitals (n = 6712) and community mental health centers (n = 21,459) for children aged 3–17 were examined. In both samples exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis found seven factors that generally supported the BPRS-C seven scale structure. Reliability as measured by internal consistency was acceptable with an average alpha of .72 (SD = .09). Mean scale scores across diagnoses and concurrent correlations with the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) were consistent with expectations.

► Factor analysis found seven factors that generally supported the BPRS-C scale structure. ► Clinical samples were from hospitals (n = 6712) and the community (n = 21,459). ► Internal consistency was acceptable with an average alpha of .72 (SD = .09). ► Mean scale scores differences across diagnoses were consistent with expectations. ► Concurrent correlations with the CBCL were consistent with expectations.