title: Freiburg Questionnaire of linguistic pragmatics (FQLP): psychometric properties based on a psychiatric sample.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Asperger's Syndrome (AS) is an autism spectrum disorder that is characterized by significant difficulties in social interaction and nonverbal communication, and restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior and interests. Difficulties with respect to pragmatic speech, reading emotional and social cues, differentiating between fact and fiction, and taking into account the influence of context on a statement are commonly described features. However, hitherto established questionnaires did not focus on these symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study we present a short (11 questions) questionnaire which focuses on self-rated pragmatic speech abilities, the Freiburg Questionnaire of linguistic pragmatics (FQLP). Psychometric properties of the questionnaire were explored in a sample of 57 patients with Asperger's Syndrome, 66 patients with other psychiatric disorders, and a convenience sample of 56 people.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Reliability analysis showed a high Cronbach's α. Strong correlations could be demonstrated for the FQLP with the Autism Quotient and the Empathy Quotient. Concerning divergent validity a moderate correlation was found between the FQLP and self-rated symptoms of personality disorders. No significant correlation was found between the FQLP and the vocabulary skills. The receiver operating characteristics curve showed an excellent diagnostic accuracy of the FQLP (.97).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As the control group consisted of people without mental disorder and patients with different psychiatric disorders, the results indicate that the construct examined by the FQLP is quite specific to the peculiarities of AS. The FQLP is a reliable, brief and valid instrument. First results regarding sensitivity and specificity are highly promising.
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Freiburg, Hauptstr. 5, Freiburg, 79104, Germany. andreas.riedel@uniklinik-freiburg.de.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Riedel
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Freiburg, Hauptstr. 5, Freiburg, 79104, Germany. heejung_suh@yahoo.de.
authors.forename: Heejung
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Suh
authors.affiliation: Department of English Linguistics, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany. verena.haser@anglistik.uni-freiburg.de.
authors.forename: Verena
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Haser
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Freiburg, Hauptstr. 5, Freiburg, 79104, Germany. ismene.hermann@uniklinik-freiburg.de.
authors.forename: Ismene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hermann
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Freiburg, Hauptstr. 5, Freiburg, 79104, Germany. dieter.ebert@uniklinik-freiburg.de.
authors.forename: Dieter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ebert
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Freiburg, Hauptstr. 5, Freiburg, 79104, Germany. dieter.riemann@uniklinik-freiburg.de.
authors.forename: Dieter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Riemann
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Freiburg, Hauptstr. 5, Freiburg, 79104, Germany. emanuel.bubl@uniklinik-freiburg.de.
authors.forename: Emanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bubl
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Freiburg, Hauptstr. 5, Freiburg, 79104, Germany. tebartzvanelst@uniklinik-freiburg.de.
authors.forename: Ludger
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tebartz van Elst
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Freiburg, Hauptstr. 5, Freiburg, 79104, Germany. lars.hoelzel@uniklinik-freiburg.de.
authors.forename: Lars P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Hölzel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D020817:Asperger Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003142:Communication; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008037:Linguistics; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012372:ROC Curve; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D057566:Self Report; D013064:Speech Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires