Efficacy of three screening instruments in the identification of autistic-spectrum disorders

TY - JOUR

T1 - Efficacy of three screening instruments in the identification of autistic-spectrum disorders

AU - Charman, Tony

AU - Baird, Gillian

AU - Simonoff, Emily

AU - Loucas, Tom

AU - Chandler, Susie

AU - Meldrum, David

AU - Pickles, Andrew

PY - 2007/12

Y1 - 2007/12

N2 - Background Screening instruments for autistic-spectrum disorders have not been compared in the same sample. Aims To compare the Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ), the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) and the Children's Communication Checklist (CCC). Method Screen and diagnostic assessments on 119 children between 9 and 13 years of age with special educational needs with and without autistic-spectrum disorders were weighted to estimate screen characteristics for a realistic target population. Results The SCQ performed best (area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC)=0.90; sensitivity. 6; specificity 0.78). The SRS had a lower AUC (0.77) with high sensitivity (0.78) and moderate specificity (0.67). The CCC had a high sensitivity but lower specificity (AUC=0.79; sensitivity 0.93; specificity 0.46). The AUC of the SRS and CCC was lower for children with IQ <70. Behaviour problems reduced specificity for all three instruments. Conclusions The SCQ, SRS and CCC showed strong to moderate ability to identify autistic-spectrum disorder in this at-risk sample of school-age children with special educational needs

AB - Background Screening instruments for autistic-spectrum disorders have not been compared in the same sample. Aims To compare the Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ), the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) and the Children's Communication Checklist (CCC). Method Screen and diagnostic assessments on 119 children between 9 and 13 years of age with special educational needs with and without autistic-spectrum disorders were weighted to estimate screen characteristics for a realistic target population. Results The SCQ performed best (area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC)=0.90; sensitivity. 6; specificity 0.78). The SRS had a lower AUC (0.77) with high sensitivity (0.78) and moderate specificity (0.67). The CCC had a high sensitivity but lower specificity (AUC=0.79; sensitivity 0.93; specificity 0.46). The AUC of the SRS and CCC was lower for children with IQ <70. Behaviour problems reduced specificity for all three instruments. Conclusions The SCQ, SRS and CCC showed strong to moderate ability to identify autistic-spectrum disorder in this at-risk sample of school-age children with special educational needs

U2 - 10.1192/bjp.bp.107.040196

DO - 10.1192/bjp.bp.107.040196

M3 - Article

C2 - 18055961

SN - 1472-1465

VL - 191

SP - 554

EP - 559

JO - British Journal of Psychiatry

JF - British Journal of Psychiatry

IS - DEC.

ER -