O Questionário de Capacidades e Dificuldades (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire) é um instrumento amplamente pesquisado, de uso livre, que visa avaliar a saúde mental de crianças e adolescentes. Dada a relevância do uso de instrumentos aferidos para a avaliação de indicadores de saúde mental, este trabalho objetivou analisar a produção científica relacionada às propriedades psicométricas do Questionário. Procedeu-se a um levantamento bibliográfico de estudos indexados nas bases de dados MedLine, PsycINFO e Lilacs, a partir da publicação original do instrumento, abrangendo o período de 1997 a 2010, utilizando-se as seguintes palavraschave: Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire and psychometric properties; e Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire and validity or reliability. Foram selecionados e analisados 51 estudos psicométricos. Os resultados indicaram índices positivos de validade e fidedignidade em 21 países, incluindo o Brasil, caracterizando seu alcance transcultural e sua aplicabilidade na área de saúde mental infanto-juvenil .

The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire is a broadly investigated tool, available for use free of charge, with the aim of assessing the mental health of children and adolescents. Given the importance of using standardized instruments for assessing mental health indicators, the aim of this study was to review scientific literature related to the psychometric properties of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. A search in MedLine, PsycINFO and Lilacs databases was performed, starting from year of the original publication of the questionnaire, from 1997 to 2010, using the keywords: Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire and psychometric properties, and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire and validity or reliability. Fifty-one psychometric studies were selected and analyzed. The results indicated positive levels of validity and reliability in 21 countries, including Brazil, highlighting its crosscultural range and applicability in the area of mental health for children and adolescents.