Development of the Challenging Behavior Rating Scale: An Instrument to Assess the Challenging Behaviors in Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Challenging behaviors are highly prevalent in individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), but the screening and early identification of such behaviors are the most neglected part of the assessment, despite there have been plethora of behavioral intervention studies for challenging behaviors as part of clinical management. A need for broad band screening instrument to assess the challenging behaviors is warranted to increase the knowledge base and to create tiered provision of services. Initial scale items were generated from semi-structured interviews with parents and teachers, and through expert review. The challenging behaviors were further measured in three dimensions namely frequency, intensity and management, which were combined into a single score based on the coding scheme developed by a team of practitioners. The scale was validated through exploratory factor analyses by administering it on a sample of 620 individuals with IDD and thus establishing the five-factor structure and scale reliability. Challenging Behavior Rating Scale (CBRS), the tool developed in the present study consists of 40 items grouped under five subscales: Aggression to People/Objects (9 items), Self-Aggression/Stimulation (11 items), Odd/ Repetitive (9 items), Socially Inappropriate (8 items) and Deviant (3 items). The present study paves way for reaffirming the model through confirmatory factor analyses and with more psychometric evidences.