Dataset Information

Expediting clinician assessment in the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder.

ABSTRACT:

Aim

To investigate a novel observational rating protocol designed to expedite clinical diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Method

Two hundred and forty patients referred to a tertiary autism center (median age 8y 9mo, range 2y 6mo-34y 8mo; 188 males, 52 females) were rated using an adaptation of the Childhood Autism Rating Scale, Second Edition (CARS-2) based exclusively on patient observation (CARS-2^obs ). Scores were compared to expert diagnosis of ASD, parent-reported Social Responsiveness Scale, Second Edition (SRS-2) and, in a selected subset of patients, the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2).

Results

CARS-2^obs distinguished patients with a clinical diagnosis of ASD from those with non-ASD neuropsychiatric disorders (mean score=18 vs 11.7, p<0.001). Severity ratings on the CARS-2^obs correlated with the ADOS-2 (r=0.68, ρ=0.64) and SRS-2 (r=0.31, ρ=0.32). A CARS-2^obs cutoff point equal to or greater than 16 demonstrated 95.8% specificity and 62.3% sensitivity in discriminating individuals with ASD from individuals without ASD in a specialty referral setting.

Interpretation

The CARS-2^obs allows the rapid acquisition of quantitative ratings of autistic severity by direct observation. Coupled with parent/teacher-reported symptoms and developmental history, the measure may contribute to a low-cost diagnostic paradigm in clinical and public health settings, where positive results might help reduce delays in diagnosis, and negative results could prompt further specialty assessment.

What this paper adds

The Childhood Autism Rating Scale, Second Edition based on patient observation distinguished individuals with versus without autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A score equal to or greater than 16 on this assessment showed high specificity for a diagnosis of ASD.

SUBMITTER: Sanchez MJ

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7540056 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Expediting clinician assessment in the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder.

Sanchez Matthew J MJ Constantino John N JN

Developmental medicine and child neurology 20200402 7

<h4>Aim</h4>To investigate a novel observational rating protocol designed to expedite clinical diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).<h4>Method</h4>Two hundred and forty patients referred to a tertiary autism center (median age 8y 9mo, range 2y 6mo-34y 8mo; 188 males, 52 females) were rated using an adaptation of the Childhood Autism Rating Scale, Second Edition (CARS-2) based exclusively on patient observation (CARS-2<sup>obs</sup> ). Scores were compared to expert diagnosis of ASD, paren ...[more]

PMID: 32239502

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Project description:ImportanceAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects 1 in 44 children. The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) is a semi-structured observation developed for use in research but is considered a component of gold standard clinical diagnosis. The ADOS adds time and cost to diagnostic assessments.ObjectiveTo evaluate consistency between clinical diagnosis (index ASD diagnosis) and diagnosis incorporating the ADOS (reference standard ASD diagnosis) and to examine clinician and child factors that predict consistency between index diagnoses and reference standard diagnoses.Design, setting, and participantsThis prospective diagnostic study was conducted between May 2019 and February 2020. Developmental-behavioral pediatricians (DBPs) made a diagnosis based on clinical assessment (index ASD diagnosis). The ADOS was then administered, after which the DBP made a second diagnosis (reference standard ASD diagnosis). DBPs self-reported diagnostic certainty at the time of the index diagnoses and reference standard diagnoses. The study took place at 8 sites (7 US and 1 European) that provided subspecialty assessments for children with concerns for ASD. Participants included children aged 18 months to 5 years, 11 months, without a prior ASD diagnosis, consecutively referred for possible ASD. Among 648 eligible children, 23 refused, 376 enrolled, and 349 completed the study. All 40 eligible DBPs participated.ExposuresADOS administered to all child participants.Main outcomes and measuresIndex diagnoses and reference standard diagnoses of ASD (yes/no).ResultsAmong the 349 children (279 [79.7%] male; mean [SD] age, 39.9 [13.4] months), index diagnoses and reference standard diagnoses were consistent for 314 (90%) (ASD = 250; not ASD = 64) and changed for 35. Clinician diagnostic certainty was the most sensitive and specific predictor of diagnostic consistency (area under curve = 0.860; P < .001). In a multilevel logistic regression, no child or clinician factors improved prediction of diagnostic consistency based solely on clinician diagnostic certainty at time of index diagnosis.Conclusions and relevanceIn this prospective diagnostic study, clinical diagnoses of ASD by DBPs with vs without the ADOS were consistent in 90.0% of cases. Clinician diagnostic certainty predicted consistency of index diagnoses and reference standard diagnoses. This study suggests that the ADOS is generally not required for diagnosis of ASD in young children by DBPs and that DBPs can identify children for whom the ADOS may be needed.

Project description:BACKGROUND: Introduction of proposed criteria for DSM-5 Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has raised concerns that some individuals currently meeting diagnostic criteria for Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD; DSM-IV-TR/ICD-10) will not qualify for a diagnosis under the proposed changes. To date, reports of sensitivity and specificity of the new criteria have been inconsistent across studies. No study has yet considered how changes at the 'sub domain' level might affect overall sensitivity and specificity, and few have included individuals of different ages and ability levels. METHODS: A set of DSM-5 ASD algorithms were developed using items from the Diagnostic Interview for Social and Communication Disorders (DISCO). The number of items required for each DSM-5 subdomain was defined either according to criteria specified by DSM-5 (Initial Algorithm), a statistical approach (Youden J Algorithm), or to minimise the number of false positives while maximising sensitivity (Modified Algorithm). The algorithms were designed, tested and compared in two independent samples (Sample 1, N = 82; Sample 2, N = 115), while sensitivity was assessed across age and ability levels in an additional dataset of individuals with an ICD-10 PDD diagnosis (Sample 3, N = 190). RESULTS: Sensitivity was highest in the Initial Algorithm, which had the poorest specificity. Although Youden J had excellent specificity, sensitivity was significantly lower than in the Modified Algorithm, which had both good sensitivity and specificity. Relaxing the domain A rules improved sensitivity of the Youden J Algorithm, but it remained less sensitive than the Modified Algorithm. Moreover, this was the only algorithm with variable sensitivity across age. All versions of the algorithm performed well across ability level. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that good levels of both sensitivity and specificity can be achieved for a diagnostic algorithm adhering to the DSM-5 criteria that is suitable across age and ability level.

Dataset Information

Expediting clinician assessment in the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder.

Aim

Method

Results

Interpretation

What this paper adds

Publications

Expediting clinician assessment in the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder.

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