Abstract
BackgroundAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) can be difficult to distinguish from other psychiatric disorders. The clinical assessment of ASD is lengthy, and has to be performed by a specialized clinician. Therefore, a screening instrument to aid in the identification of patients who may have undiagnosed ASD should be useful. The purpose of this study was to develop such a screening instrument.MethodsBased on the 80 item Ritvo Autism and Asperger Diagnostic Scale-Revised (RAADS-R), we developed a 14 item self-evaluation questionnaire, the RAADS-14 Screen. In total, 135 adults with ASD and 508 psychiatric controls completed the abridged version of the RAADS-R.ResultsThe RAADS-14 Screen score was significantly higher in the ASD group than in the control samples, with a median score of 32 for ASD, 15 for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and 11 for other psychiatric disorders (P < 0.001). A cut-off score of 14 or above reached a sensitivity of 97% and a specificity of 46 to 64%. A factor analysis identified three factors consistent with mentalizing deficits, social anxiety, and sensory reactivity relevant for the diagnosis of ASD. The psychometric properties of RAADS-14 Screen were shown to be satisfactory.ConclusionsThe results of this study indicate that RAADS-14 Screen is a promising measure in screening for ASD in adult psychiatric outpatients.
Highlights
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can be difficult to distinguish from other psychiatric disorders
A high rate of comorbidity with other psychiatric disorders has been observed in adult psychiatric patients with ASD [2,3]
The Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) was developed to measure the degree to which adults exhibit cognitive traits typical for autism, whereas the Ritvo Autism and Asperger Diagnostic Scale-Revised (RAADS-R) was tailored to assist in the diagnosis of adults within the ASD spectrum by addressing symptoms based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-IVTR) for autistic disorder and Asperger’s disorder, and the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) equivalent
Summary
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can be difficult to distinguish from other psychiatric disorders. A screening instrument to aid in the identification of patients who may have undiagnosed ASD should be useful. A self-rating instrument is a cost-effective tool for limiting assessment of individuals with low likelihood for ASD, these two instruments may be considered too lengthy for screening purposes in the clinical setting. User-friendly and psychometrically valid screening instruments for adult ASD tested in psychiatric populations are still lacking. The aim of the present study was to construct such a rating scale, based on the RAADS-R, which would reflect the diagnostic criteria for ASD, and to investigate its properties in a wide range of clinically diagnosed psychiatric outpatients with normal intelligence
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
