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This paper studied the relationship between stressful life events (SLE) and psychological symptoms (externalizing and internalizing symptomatology) and school and family adaptation in childhood. Participants were 552, 53.4% boys and 46.6% girls, aged between 10-12 years. Patients receiving treatment in mental health services and a community group were compared. At least one SLE in the past two years is experienced by 88.2% of children. SLE were significantly higher in the clinical group than in the community group. SLE are related to the increased presence of symptoms and lower levels of adaptation. The association between family SLE and hyperactivity symptoms is stronger in the clinical group than in the community group. Having experienced SLE and being a patient predict both symptomatology and adaptation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the aims of Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-II (MCMI-II) is to identify the best diagnosis for patients. In order to achieve this goal, the MCMI-II suggests cutoff points in terms of base rate (BR) scores that are supported by satisfactory results in a diagnostic validity study. The three editions of the Spanish adaptation of the MCMI-II show a number of inconsistencies concerning norms to translate raw scores into BR --misprints, high discrepancies with American norms, change of norms among editions. There is also a suggestion for diagnostic BR cutoff points which validity is not supported by any empirical research. This paper analyzes problems and implications stemming from this situation. Some suggestions and recommendations are also made to overcome those problems --the most important of which is not to use the Spanish adaptation of the MCMI-II for diagnostic purposes until data to support diagnostic validity have been gathered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]