Assessment of global functioning in adolescents with autism spectrum disorders: Utility of the Developmental Disability-Child Global Assessment Scale

摘要

Assessment of global functioning is an important consideration in treatment outcome research; yet, there is little guidance on its evidence-based assessment for children with autism spectrum disorders. This study investigated the utility and validity of clinician-rated global functioning using the Developmental Disability-Child Global Assessment Scale in a sample of higher functioning adolescents with autism spectrum disorders and comorbid anxiety disorders enrolled in a randomized controlled trial (n = 30). Pretreatment Developmental Disability-Child Global Assessment Scale scores correlated with severity of autism spectrum disorders core symptoms (r = -.388, p =.034), pragmatic communication (r =.407, p =.032), and verbal ability (r =.449, p =.013) and did not correlate with severity of anxiety symptoms or with parent-reported adaptive behavior. Change in Developmental Disability-Child Global Assessment Scale scores during treatment was associated with autism spectrum disorders symptomatic improvement (r =.414, p =.040) and with improved general communication (r =.499, p =.013). Results support the importance of assessing global functioning in addition to symptom change and treatment response in clinical trials.