Preliminary Evidence Suggesting Caution in the Use of Psychiatric Self-Report Measures with Adolescents with High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders

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  • Author(s): Mazefsky, C. A.; Kao, J.; Oswald, D. P.
  • Language:
    English
  • Source:
    Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders. Jan-Mar 2011 5(1):164-174.
  • Publication Date:
    2011
  • Document Type:
    Journal Articles
    Reports - Evaluative
  • Additional Information
    • Availability:
      Elsevier. 6277 Sea Harbor Drive, Orlando, FL 32887-4800. Tel: 877-839-7126; Tel: 407-345-4020; Fax: 407-363-1354; e-mail: [email protected]; Web site: http://www.elsevier.com
    • Peer Reviewed:
      Y
    • Source:
      11
    • Subject Terms:
      Pervasive Developmental Disorders; Autism; Measurement Techniques; Measures (Individuals); Depression (Psychology); Anxiety; Reliability; Preadolescents; Adolescents; Parents; Interviews
    • Subject Terms:
      Childrens Depression Inventory; Childrens Manifest Anxiety Scale
    • Accession Number:
      10.1016/j.rasd.2010.03.006
    • ISSN:
      1750-9467
    • Abstract:
      This study investigated the utility of self-report measures to screen for psychiatric comorbidities in autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Thirty-eight 10-17 year olds with an ASD and without mental retardation completed: the "Children's Depression Inventory-Short version (CDI-S)", "Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale (RCMAS)", "Conners-Wells Adolescent Self-report Scale-Short edition (CASS-S)", and "Short Leyton Obsessional Inventory-Child Version (SLOI-CV)". Their parents were interviewed with the "Autism Comorbidity Interview-Present and Lifetime (ACI-PL)" to establish psychiatric diagnoses. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and reliability coefficients were calculated for each self-report and compared to values from literature. The "CDI-S" and "CASS-S" yielded a high number of false negatives, with lower sensitivities and specificities in the sample than the literature. There was a nearly significant difference in total mean "RCMAS" scores between participants with and without anxiety, though again the means for both groups were below the threshold of concern. The "SLOI-CV" yielded a high false positive rate. All four instruments had reliability coefficients comparable to literature values. Results must be considered preliminary due to sample size. However, the findings suggest that although self-report instruments may provide useful information in the diagnosis of psychiatric comorbidities in ASD, caution must be exercised in their interpretation. (Contains 4 tables.)
    • Abstract:
      As Provided
    • Publication Date:
      2010
    • Accession Number:
      EJ900403