title: Utility of the Gilliam Autism Rating Scale in research and clinical populations.
abstract: The Gilliam Autism Rating Scale (GARS) was developed as a relatively easy, inexpensive aid in the surveillance and diagnosis of autism. This study examined the validity of the GARS when used with a sample of 119 children with strict DSM-IV diagnoses of autism, ascertained from both clinical and research settings. The GARS consistently underestimated the likelihood that autistic children in this sample would be classified as having autism. The sample mean for the Autism Quotient, a hypothesized index of the likelihood of having autism, was 90.10, significantly below the reference mean of 100. Diagnostic classification according to criteria specified by the GARS resulted in a sensitivity of only .48. Limitations of rating scales in general and of the GARS specifically are discussed. It is recommended that clinicians and researchers using or considering using the GARS for autism diagnosis or ratings of autism severity recognize the need for further research regarding its use.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Utah, USA.
authors.forename: Mikle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: South
authors.forename: Brenda J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: William M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: McMahon
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Owley
authors.forename: Pauline A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Filipek
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Shernoff
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Corsello
authors.forename: Janet E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Lainhart
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Landa
authors.forename: Sally
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ozonoff
mesh_terms: D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires