A SCALE TO ASSIST THE DIAGNOSIS OF AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS IN ADULTS: PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF A MULTI-CENTER STANDARDIZATION STUDY

Background: The Ritvo Autism Asperger's Diagnostic Scale (RAADS) is an 80 item scale to assist clinicians diagnosing autism spectrum disorders in adults (18 years and older). It has been shown to be valid, reliable, and highly sensitive and highly specific in a limited number of subjects. Two recent peer reviewed publications present the rational, a detailed description, and a clinical research application of the scale. It is now being standardized on a larger number of subjects in an international multi center study. Objectives: ,To present the initial findings of the international multi center standardization study. Methods: Clinical data and scale scores are being obtained on the following types of subjects: A. Subjects with an autism spectrum disorder, 1) those diagnosed by research criteria, 2) those with a prior diagnosis by clinician of various professional disciplines, B. Subjects without an autism spectrum disorder, 1) those who do not and never have had a DSM-IV diagnosis, 2) those with a current Axis One DSM-IV diagnosis other that a developmental disability, 3) first degree relatives of subjects who received a research diagnosis of an Autistic Spectrum disorder. Statistical analyses of demographic factors, sensitivity and specificity, and concurrent validity (by comparison with the Constantino SRS Scale and Module 4 of the ADOS Scale) will be presented. To date over 100 autistic spectrum and 300 non-autistic spectrum subjects have been assessed, and more will be added by the time of the presentation. Results: to be determined Conclusions: These will be based on the results of the data available for analyses on May 1, 2008, and presented at the conference.