title: The overt aggression scale for rating aggression in outpatient youth with autistic disorder: preliminary findings.
abstract: Aggression is a common and costly problem in youth with developmental disabilities. Rating scales that accurately capture and measure subtypes of aggression phenomenology, frequency and severity are urgently needed, in both clinical practice and research. The authors studied the Overt Aggression Scale (OAS) in a preliminary sample of eight outpatients who participated in an ongoing placebo-controlled study of valproate for aggression in autism. Subjects' OAS aggression scores showed significant correlation with the already validated retrospectively rated Aberrant Behavior Checklist Community Scale irritability subscale. Further study of the OAS in outpatients with aggression and developmental disabilities is warranted.
authors.affiliation: University of Kansas Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, 3901 Rainbow Blvd., Kansas City, KS 66160, USA. JHelling@kumc.edu
authors.forename: Jessica A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hellings
authors.forename: Elizabeth J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Nickel
authors.forename: Marilyn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weckbaugh
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: McCarter
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mosier
authors.forename: Stephen R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Schroeder
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000187:drug effects / Q000523:psychology*; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D014635:Valproic Acid