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Screening for autism in preterm children : diagnostic utility of the Social Communication Questionnaire

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Johnson, Samantha J., Hollis, Chris, Hennessy, Enid M., Kochhar, Puja, Wolke, Dieter and Marlow, Neil. (2011) Screening for autism in preterm children : diagnostic utility of the Social Communication Questionnaire. Archives of Disease in Childhood, Vol.96 (No.1). pp. 73-77. ISSN 0003-9888

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/adc.2010.194795

Abstract

Objective Preterm survivors are at high risk for autism
spectrum disorders (ASD). The diagnostic utility of the
Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ) in screening
for ASD was assessed in extremely preterm children at
11 years of age.
Design All babies born at <26 weeks gestation
in UK and Ireland from March through December
1995 were recruited to the EPICure Study. Of 307
survivors, 219 (71%) were assessed at 11 years.
Parents of 173 children completed the SCQ to screen
for autistic features and the Development and Well
Being Assessment (DAWBA) psychiatric interview.
A consensus diagnosis of ASD was assigned by two
child psychiatrists following review of the DAWBA
parental interview and corresponding DAWBA teacher
questionnaire.
Setting Community-based follow-up.
Results Using the established SCQ cut-off (scores
≥15), 28 (16%) extremely preterm children screened
positive for ASD. Eleven (6%) were assigned a
diagnosis of ASD. Using this cut-off, the SCQ had 82%
sensitivity and 88% specifi city for identifying ASD in this
population. Using a receiver operating characteristic
curve, SCQ scores ≥14 had optimal diagnostic utility
(area under curve: 0.94; sensitivity: 91%; specifi city:
86%). Positive predictive value was relatively low
(31%) resulting in numerous over-referrals. However,
children with false positive screens had signifi cantly
worse neuro-developmental, cognitive and behavioural
outcomes than those with true negative screens.
Conclusion The SCQ has good diagnostic utility for
identifying ASD in extremely preterm children and
is a useful screening tool in this population. Children
with false positive screens represent a high-risk group
in whom further diagnostic assessment would be
benefi cial.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	R Medicine > RC Internal medicine R Medicine > RJ Pediatrics
Divisions:	Faculty of Science > Psychology
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Autism spectrum disorders, Premature infants -- Development, Developmental psychobiology, Developmental psychology
Journal or Publication Title:	Archives of Disease in Childhood
Publisher:	BMJ Group
ISSN:	0003-9888
Official Date:	January 2011
Volume:	Vol.96
Number:	No.1
Number of Pages:	5
Page Range:	pp. 73-77
Identification Number:	10.1136/adc.2010.194795
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Access rights to Published version:	Restricted or Subscription Access
Funder:	Medical Research Council (Great Britain) (MRC), National Institute for Health Research (Great Britain) (NIHR)
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URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/3697