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Diagnostic Utility of the Gilliam Autism Rating Scales-3rd Edition Parent Report in Clinically Referred Children

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Abstract

There is limited research regarding the Gilliam Autism Rating Scales-3rd Edition (GARS-3) despite its extensive use. A comprehensive diagnostic evaluation, including the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-2nd Edition (ADOS-2) was provided to 186 clinically referred children suspected of autism (\(\overline{X }\) age = 8.98; Autism [AUT] n = 87; Not Autism [NOT] n = 99). Mean difference analyses, Logistic Regressions, and ROC analyses were non-significant for both Autism Index scores. The author-suggested cutoff score of 70 correctly classified approximately 47% of participants, with false positive rates = 82.83–87.88%. ADOS-2 correlations were significantly lower vis-à-vis the standardization sample. The Social Interaction subscale demonstrated weak, marginal results, and sensitivity/specificity could not be optimized. In its current form, the GARS-3 does not demonstrate adequate criterion validity for use in assessment of complex community samples.

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Acknowledgments

This study did not receive funding. Limited preliminary data on the ROCs were presented as part of a larger presentation at the Center for Autism and Related Disorders conference.

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  1. Amy Camodeca

    Present address: The Pennsylvania State University, Beaver Campus, 100 University Drive, Monaca, PA, 15108, USA

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  1. Psychology Department, The Pennsylvania State University, 100 University Drive, Monaca, PA, 15061, USA

    Amy Camodeca

  2. University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, Canada

    Amy Camodeca

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Camodeca, A. Diagnostic Utility of the Gilliam Autism Rating Scales-3rd Edition Parent Report in Clinically Referred Children. J Autism Dev Disord 53, 2112–2126 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-022-05483-5

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