AUTHOR=Sutherland Daniel L. , Taylor Emma L. , Gray Kylie M. , Hastings Richard P. , Allard Amanda , Carr Joanna , Griffin Joanna , McMeekin Nicola , Randell Elizabeth , Russell Daisy , Willoughby-Richards Bronwen , Wolstencroft Jeanne , Thompson Paul A. 

TITLE=Estimating a minimum clinically important difference for the Developmental Behaviour Checklist – parent report

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychiatry

VOLUME=Volume 16 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1612911

DOI=10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1612911

ISSN=1664-0640

ABSTRACT=BackgroundEvaluating the effectiveness of interventions relies on understanding what change in a main outcome is sufficient to be considered meaningful. Our aim was to estimate a Minimum Clinically Important Difference (MCID) for the Developmental Behaviour Checklist, parent-report (DBC-P)- a measure of behavioural and emotional problems in children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities.MethodsWe generated distribution-based estimates through meta-analysis of intervention evaluations using the DBC-P as an outcome measure. We also generated anchor-based estimates using case scenarios with 10 parent carers and 21 professionals working with people with intellectual disabilities.Results21 studies were included in the meta-analyses and indicated an average DBC total raw score decrease of 3.01 or 4.73 (depending on analytic methods) in randomised controlled trials, and an average decrease of 9.16 points in pre-post designs. Parent carers provided a median MCID estimate of 6 (IQR 4, 7) and professionals provided a median estimate of 8 (IQR 5, 14).ConclusionsThese findings contextualise DBC-P score changes in relation to outcomes from other interventions and parent carer and professional views. Which MCID value to choose depends on what factors are prioritised for an intervention.