[SCQ as a tool for screening ASD comorbidities with ADHD].

Area of Science:

• Neurodevelopmental Disorders
• Child Psychiatry
• Psychometric Assessment

Background:

• Autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) often presents with comorbidities, impacting diagnosis and treatment.
• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common comorbidity in children with ASD.
• Early identification of comorbidities is crucial for effective intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ) as a screening tool for identifying ADHD comorbidity in children diagnosed with ASD.
• To determine if SCQ scores differ between children with ASD and comorbid ADHD versus those with ASD alone.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 75 parent-completed SCQ questionnaires from children referred for psychopathological assessment.
• Patients were diagnosed with either ASD with ADHD comorbidity (24) or pure ASD (51).
• Statistical comparison of SCQ scores between the two diagnostic groups.

Main Results:

• Children with ASD and comorbid ADHD exhibited significantly higher SCQ scores compared to children with pure ASD.
• Specific areas of higher frequency on the SCQ included deficits in sociability, empathy, and impulse control.
• Patients with intellectual disabilities also showed elevated SCQ scores.

Conclusions:

• The SCQ is a valuable tool for assessing the ASD population and can aid in the early detection of potential ADHD comorbidity.
• Higher SCQ scores in ASD patients may signal the presence of ADHD, prompting further investigation.
• The findings support the use of the SCQ in comprehensive diagnostic evaluations for children with ASD.