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Identification of Autism Spectrum Disorders Using the Child Behavior Checklist in Singapore

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Abstract

We tested the ability of the 2001 CBCL syndromes to discriminate among 86 children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), 117 children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder—Inattentive type, 426 children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder—Hyperactive-Impulsive or Combined type, 200 clinically referred children who did not receive a diagnosis, and 436 typically-developing children in a community sample. The Withdrawn/Depressed, Social Problems, and Thought Problems syndromes significantly discriminated the ASD group from the four other groups. An ASD scale, constructed from nine CBCL items, demonstrated moderate to high sensitivity (68 to 78%) and specificity (73 to 92%). Consistent with previous research, findings from this study provide strong support for the CBCL as a screening tool for ASD.

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Acknowledgements

This research study is supported by the Singapore’s National Medical Research Council grant (NMRC 0745-2003) and the Institute of Mental Health Institutional Block Grant (233/2008). We would like to thank all those involved in the research study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Mental Health, Child Guidance Clinic, 3 Second Hospital Avenue, #03-01 Health Promotion Board Building, Singapore, 168937, Singapore

    Yoon Phaik Ooi, Bernardine Woo & Daniel S. S. Fung

  2. Bryn Mawr College, Bryn Mawr, PA, USA

    Leslie Rescorla

  3. Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore

    Rebecca P. Ang

Authors
  1. Yoon Phaik Ooi
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  2. Leslie Rescorla
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  3. Rebecca P. Ang
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  4. Bernardine Woo
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  5. Daniel S. S. Fung
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Correspondence to Yoon Phaik Ooi.

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Ooi, Y.P., Rescorla, L., Ang, R.P. et al. Identification of Autism Spectrum Disorders Using the Child Behavior Checklist in Singapore. J Autism Dev Disord 41, 1147–1156 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-010-1015-x

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