The Beavers, McMaster and Circumplex Clinical Rating Scales: A study of their sensitivity, specificity and discriminant validity

To asses the sensitivity and specificity of clinical rating scales from the Beavers, McMaster
and Circumplex models of family functioning videotapes of 60 families engaging in a
standardized family task interview were rated using the three rating scales. The 60 families
included 20 containing a child with an emotional disorder, 20 containing a child with a mixed
disorder of emotions and conduct; and 20 in which none of the children presented with
clinically significant difficulties. The three rating scales accurately classified 85-90% of normal
controls; 70-90% of cases containing a child with a mixed disorder of emotions and conduct;
and 55-65% of families containing a child with an emotional disorder. On the rating scales, the
Beavers and McMaster models showed particularly high levels of sensitivity in detecting
clinical cases, whereas the Circumplex rating scale was particularly good at classifying nonclinical
cases accurately.