scholarly journals The measurement properties of the spence children's anxiety scale-parent version in a large international pooled sample of young people with autism spectrum disorder

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 1629-1652 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iliana Magiati ◽  
Jian Wei Lerh ◽  
Matthew J. Hollocks ◽  
Mirko Uljarevic ◽  
Jacqui Rodgers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Young People ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Anxiety Scale ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Measurement Properties ◽  
Children’S Anxiety ◽  
Spence Children’S Anxiety Scale ◽  
Pooled Sample ◽  
Parent Version

scholarly journals Anxiety in young people with autism spectrum disorder: Common and autism-related anxiety experiences and their associations with individual characteristics

Autism ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (5) ◽  
pp. 1111-1126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Boon Yen Lau ◽  
Ruth Leong ◽  
Mirko Uljarevic ◽  
Jian Wei Lerh ◽  
Jacqui Rodgers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Anxiety Scale ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Environmental Disasters ◽  
Diagnostic And Statistical Manual ◽  
Children’S Anxiety ◽  
Spence Children’S Anxiety Scale ◽  
Original Measure

Anxiety is common in autism spectrum disorder. Many anxiety symptoms in autism spectrum disorder are consistent with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.) anxiety disorders (termed “common” anxieties), but others may be qualitatively different, likely relating to autism spectrum disorder traits (herein termed “autism-related” anxieties). To date, few studies have examined both “common” and “autism-related” anxiety experiences in autism spectrum disorder. We explored caregiver-reported Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale-Parent version data from a multi-site (United Kingdom, Singapore, and United States) pooled database of 870 6- to 18-year-old participants with autism spectrum disorder, of whom 287 provided at least one written response to the optional open-ended Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale-Parent item 39 (“ Is there anything else your child is afraid of?”). Responses were thematically coded to explore (a) common and autism-related anxiety presentations and (b) their relationship with young people’s characteristics. Nearly half of the responses were autism-related anxieties (mostly sensory, uncommon, or idiosyncratic specific phobias and worries about change and unpredictability). The other half described additional common anxieties not covered in the original measure (mostly social, weather and environmental disasters, and animals). Caregivers of participants who were more severely affected by autism spectrum disorder symptoms reported more autism-related, as compared to common, additional anxieties. Implications for the assessment and understanding of anxiety in autism are discussed.

scholarly journals Parent-Child Agreement Using the Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale and a Thermometer in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. May ◽  
K. Cornish ◽  
N. J. Rinehart
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Anxiety Scale ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Typically Developing ◽  
Typically Developing Children ◽  
Child Report ◽  
Children’S Anxiety ◽  
Spence Children’S Anxiety Scale

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) experience high anxiety which often prompts clinical referral and requires intervention. This study aimed to compare parent and child reports on the Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale (SCAS) and a child-reported “worry thermometer” in 88 children aged 8–13 years, 44 with ASD and 44 age, gender, and perceptual IQ matched typically developing children. There were no gender differences in child report on the SCAS and worry thermometers. Results indicated generally good correlations between parent and child self-reported SCAS symptoms for typically developing children but poor agreement in parent-child ASD dyads. The worry thermometer child-report did not reflect child or parent reports on the SCAS. Findings suggest 8–13-year-old children with ASD may have difficulties accurately reporting their anxiety levels. The clinical implications were discussed.

scholarly journals Systematic review of tools to measure outcomes for young children with autism spectrum disorder

2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (41) ◽  
pp. 1-506 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helen McConachie ◽  
Jeremy R Parr ◽  
Magdalena Glod ◽  
Jennifer Hanratty ◽  
Nuala Livingstone ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Young People ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Measurement Properties ◽  
Children With Asd

BackgroundThe needs of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are complex and this is reflected in the number and diversity of outcomes assessed and measurement tools used to collect evidence about children’s progress. Relevant outcomes include improvement in core ASD impairments, such as communication, social awareness, sensory sensitivities and repetitiveness; skills such as social functioning and play; participation outcomes such as social inclusion; and parent and family impact.ObjectivesTo examine the measurement properties of tools used to measure progress and outcomes in children with ASD up to the age of 6 years. To identify outcome areas regarded as important by people with ASD and parents.MethodsThe MeASURe (Measurement in Autism Spectrum disorder Under Review) research collaboration included ASD experts and review methodologists. We undertook systematic review of tools used in ASD early intervention and observational studies from 1992 to 2013; systematic review, using the COSMIN checklist (Consensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement Instruments) of papers addressing the measurement properties of identified tools in children with ASD; and synthesis of evidence and gaps. The review design and process was informed throughout by consultation with stakeholders including parents, young people with ASD, clinicians and researchers.ResultsThe conceptual framework developed for the review was drawn from the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health, including the domains ‘Impairments’, ‘Activity Level Indicators’, ‘Participation’, and ‘Family Measures’. In review 1, 10,154 papers were sifted – 3091 by full text – and data extracted from 184; in total, 131 tools were identified, excluding observational coding, study-specific measures and those not in English. In review 2, 2665 papers were sifted and data concerning measurement properties of 57 (43%) tools were extracted from 128 papers. Evidence for the measurement properties of the reviewed tools was combined with information about their accessibility and presentation. Twelve tools were identified as having the strongest supporting evidence, the majority measuring autism characteristics and problem behaviour. The patchy evidence and limited scope of outcomes measured mean these tools do not constitute a ‘recommended battery’ for use. In particular, there is little evidence that the identified tools would be good at detecting change in intervention studies. The obvious gaps in available outcome measurement include well-being and participation outcomes for children, and family quality-of-life outcomes, domains particularly valued by our informants (young people with ASD and parents).ConclusionsThis is the first systematic review of the quality and appropriateness of tools designed to monitor progress and outcomes of young children with ASD. Although it was not possible to recommend fully robust tools at this stage, the review consolidates what is known about the field and will act as a benchmark for future developments. With input from parents and other stakeholders, recommendations are made about priority targets for research.Future workPriorities include development of a tool to measure child quality of life in ASD, and validation of a potential primary outcome tool for trials of early social communication intervention.Study registrationThis study is registered as PROSPERO CRD42012002223.FundingThe National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment programme.

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