Screening for autistic spectrum disorder in children aged 14-15 months. II: population screening with the Early Screening of Autistic Traits Questionnaire (ESAT). Design and general findings.
A two-stage protocol for screening for autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) was evaluated in a random population of 31,724 children aged 14-15 months. Children were first pre-screened by physicians at well-baby clinics using a 4-item screening instrument. Infants that screened positive were then evaluated during a 1.5-h home visit by a trained psychologist using a recently developed screening instrument, the 14-item Early Screening of Autistic Traits Questionnaire (ESAT). Children with 3 or more negative scores were considered to be at high-risk of developing ASD and were invited for further systematic psychiatric examination. Eighteen children with ASD were identified. The group of children with false positive results had related disorders, such as Language Disorder (N = 18) and Mental Retardation (N = 13).
Dietz
Claudine
C
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, B01.201, University Medical Center Utrecht, Post Box 8500, Utrecht, 3508 GA, The Netherlands. c.dietz@azu.nl
Swinkels
Sophie
S
van Daalen
Emma
E
van Engeland
Herman
H
Buitelaar
Jan K
JK
D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D007805:Language Development Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D009426:Netherlands; D010348:Patient Care Team; D018570:Risk Assessment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires