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Different autism measures targeting different severity levels in children with autism spectrum disorder

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A Correction to this article was published on 28 October 2023

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Abstract

The Childhood Autism Rating Scale™, Second Edition (CARS™-2) and Social Responsiveness Scale™, Second Edition (SRS™-2) are two measures for identifying autism symptoms. The CARS™-2 has two versions: Standard (CARS-ST) and High-Functioning (CARS-HF). To better understand their properties, this study aimed to investigate: (1) the associations among the CARS-ST, CARS-HF and the SRS™-2, and (2) the severity consistency between the CARS-ST and the CARS-HF. A sample of 125 children with autism spectrum disorder was recruited (mean age: 80.98 months, SD = 16.08). Based on Verbal Comprehension Index (VCI), children were divided into two groups: low severity level of autism spectrum disorder (LSL-ASD: VCI ≥ 80) and high severity level of autism spectrum disorder (HSL-ASD: VCI < 80). All children were evaluated with the CARS-ST and the SRS™-2, and the HF group, with the CARS-HF as well. In the LSL group, the CARS-ST and the CARS-HF had high correlation (r = 0.852, p < .001). Both versions had small to moderate correlations with the SRS™-2 (r = 0.130–0.491). In the HSL group, no significant correlations were found between the CARS-ST and SRS™-2 (p > .05). The CARS-HF and the CARS-ST had low severity consistency (Kappa = 0.376, p < .01). The CARS-ST and the CARS-HF had high correlations but low severity consistency. Different correlation patterns were found between the CARS™-2 and the SRS™-2 in the LSL and HSL groups. The results should help clinicians better understand the properties of the measures and choose appropriate measures when assessing autism symptoms.

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Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, [KLC], upon reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

We thank all the participants in the study, and also the doctors and therapists in the hospitals for referral of the participants. The study was supported by the National Science and Technology Council, Taiwan, R.O.C. (MOST 111-2628-B-006-021).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Occupational Therapy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan

    Chien-Yu Huang

  2. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

    Chien-Yu Huang

  3. Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Municipal Kai-Syuan Psychiatric Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

    Kuan-Shu Chen

  4. Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Jianan Psychiatric Center, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Tainan, Taiwan

    Kuan-Ying Lee

  5. Department of Psychiatry, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan

    Chien-Ho Lin

  6. Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, No. 1 University Road, Tainan City, 701, Taiwan

    Kuan-Lin Chen

  7. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan

    Kuan-Lin Chen

  8. Institute of Allied Health Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan

    Kuan-Lin Chen

Authors
  1. Chien-Yu Huang
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  2. Kuan-Shu Chen
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  3. Kuan-Ying Lee
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  4. Chien-Ho Lin
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Contributions

CYH: analysis of data, drafting the manuscript, reviewing and editing. KSC: conception, reviewing and editing; GYL: conception, reviewing editing; CHL: conception, reviewing and editing; KLC: conception and design of the study, acquisition and analysis of data, drafting the manuscript, reviewing and editing.

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Correspondence to Kuan-Lin Chen.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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The original online version of this article was revised: To correct the error in author name.

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Huang, CY., Chen, KS., Lee, KY. et al. Different autism measures targeting different severity levels in children with autism spectrum disorder. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 274, 27–33 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-023-01673-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-023-01673-z

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