title: A scale to assist the diagnosis of autism and Asperger's disorder in adults (RAADS): a pilot study.
abstract: An empirically based 78 question self-rating scale based on DSM-IV-TR and ICD-10 criteria was developed to assist clinicians' diagnosis of adults with autism and Asperger's Disorder-the Ritvo Autism and Asperger's Diagnostic Scale (RAADS). It was standardized on 17 autistic and 20 Asperger's Disorder and 57 comparison subjects. Both autistic and Asperger's groups scored significantly higher than comparison groups with no overlap; sensitivity, specificity, and content validity equaled one. Cronbach's alpha coefficients of internal consistency of three subscales were satisfactory. Gender, age, and diagnostic categories were not significantly associated factors. The RAADS can be administered and scored in less than an hour and may be useful as a clinical scale to assist identification of autism and Asperger's Disorder in adults. The RAADS does not distinguish between autism and Asperger's Disorder.
authors.affiliation: Yale Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA. Ariritvo@aol.com
authors.forename: Riva Ariella
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Ritvo
authors.forename: Edward R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Ritvo
authors.forename: Donald
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Guthrie
authors.forename: Arthur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yuwiler
authors.forename: Max Joseph
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Ritvo
authors.forename: Leo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Weisbender
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D020817:Asperger Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D038801:International Classification of Diseases; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011594:Psychometrics; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires