Pervasive Developmental Disorders Behavior Inventory (PDDBI)

The PDDBI is unusual among autism measures in asking about two things at once. Most instruments catalogue what is going wrong; this one also asks what the child can do — the social, language, learning, and memory skills that intervention is meant to build.

Items sit in two broad categories. Approach/Withdrawal Problems covers sensory and perceptual behaviours, ritualisms and resistance to change, social and semantic pragmatic problems, and — on the extended form — arousal regulation, specific fears, and aggressiveness. Receptive/Expressive Social Communication Abilities covers social approach behaviours, expressive language, and learning, memory, and receptive language. Parallel parent and teacher forms allow the same child to be rated at home and at school.

Licensing Notes: Published by PAR and also distributed by WPS. Level B qualification required. Reproduction requires publisher permission.

Learn More: Four forms exist and the choice matters. Standard forms (PDDBI-P and PDDBI-T, 124 items each) cover six domains and suit questions specifically about autism — including whether treatment is affecting targeted behaviours. Extended forms (PDDBI-PX, 188 items; PDDBI-TX, 180 items) add four domains covering fear, aggression, and arousal regulation, which matter for placement and treatment decisions. A separate screening version (PDDBI-SV) identifies children at risk.