This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.

Anxiety measure reliable, valid for anxiety in ASD

Recent findings indicated the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule-Child/Parent, Parent Version was a reliable and valid measure for comorbid and ambiguous anxiety symptoms in autism spectrum disorders.

“Anxiety disorders are estimated to occur in 11% to 84% of youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and are associated with additional functional disability,” Connor Morrow Kerns, PhD, of Drexel University, and colleagues wrote. “Efforts to understand the phenomenology of anxiety in this cohort have yielded inconsistent findings regarding characteristics (eg, cognitive ability, age, ASD severity) associated with anxiety. This variability is partially attributable to differences in sampling methods, but also likely reflects issues surrounding the measurement and presentation of anxiety in youth with ASD.”

To assess validity of an ASD addendum to the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule-Child/Parent, Parent Version (ADIS/ASA) for anxiety in ASD, researchers evaluated 69 youth with ASD seeking treatment for anxiety. Study participants were aged 8 to 13 years. Parents of participants completed the ADIS/ASA and a number of behavioral measures.

Analysis indicated ADIS/ASA was a reliable measurement for comorbid and ambiguous anxiety-like symptoms in children with ASD.

Convergent and discriminant validity were supported for traditional anxiety symptoms on the ADIS/ASA, while only partially supported for ambiguous anxiety-like symptoms, according to researchers.

“These findings are extremely important to those who may wish to use the ADIS/ASA in their research or in their clinical work with youth on the spectrum,” Kerns said in a press release. “They suggest that the ADIS/ASA is a reliable tool for comprehensively assessing anxiety in children with autism that may reduce the likelihood that anxiety goes undetected and untreated, while also reducing inconsistencies in research.” – by Amanda Oldt

Disclosure: Please see the study for a full list of relevant financial disclosures.