Discriminant and concurrent validity of a simplified DSM-based structured diagnostic instrument for the assessment of autism spectrum disorders in youth and young adults.
BACKGROUND
To evaluate the concurrent and discriminant validity of a brief DSM-based structured diagnostic interview for referred individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs).


METHODS
To test concurrent validity, we assessed the structured interview's agreement in 123 youth with the expert clinician assessment and the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS). Discriminant validity was examined using 1563 clinic-referred youth.


RESULTS
The structured diagnostic interview and SRS were highly sensitive indicators of the expert clinician assessment. Equally strong was the agreement between the structured interview and SRS. We found evidence for high specificity for the structured interview.


CONCLUSIONS
A simplified DSM-based ASD structured diagnostic interview could serve as a useful diagnostic aid in the assessment of subjects with ASDs in clinical and research settings.
Clinical and Research Program in Pediatric Psychopharmacology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA. Joshi.Gagan@mgh.harvard.edu
Gagan
G
Joshi
Carter R
CR
Petty
Ronna
R
Fried
Janet
J
Wozniak
Jamie A
JA
Micco
Aude
A
Henin
Robert
R
Doyle
Maribel
M
Galdo
Meghan
M
Kotarski
Janet
J
Caruso
Benjamin
B
Meller
Stephen V
SV
Faraone
Joseph
J
Biederman
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000175:diagnosis*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D055815:Young Adult