Validity of Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC): preliminary study.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the concurrent and criterion validity of the Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC).


METHODS
Three groups, comprising 38 mothers of children previously diagnosed with autism (DSM IV-TR, 2002), 43 mothers of children with language disorders other than autism, and 52 mothers of children who had no linguistic or behavioral complaints, were interviewed. In order to minimize the effect of maternal level of education, the questionnaire was completed by the researcher. To determine the concurrent validation, ANOVA and discriminant analysis were used. The ROC curve was used to establish the cutoff score of the sample and to examine the criterion validity.


RESULTS
The mean total score was significantly higher in the group of mothers of autistic children than in the other groups. The ABC correctly identified 81.6% of the autistic children. The ROC curve cutoff score was 49, and the sensitivity was 92.1%, higher than the 57.89% found when a cutoff score of 68 was used. The specificity was 92.6%, similar to the 94.73% obtained with a cutoff score of 68.


CONCLUSIONS
The ABC shows promise as an instrument for identifying children with autistic disorders, both in clinical and educational contexts, especially when a cutoff score of 49 is used.
Marteleto
Márcia Regina Fumagalli
MR
Department of Speech Therapy, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. marcia.marteleto@terra.com.br
Pedromônico
Márcia Regina Marcondes
MR
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002648:Child; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012372:ROC Curve; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires