International Consensus on Standard Outcome Measures for Neurodevelopmental Disorders: A Consensus Statement.

Area of Science:

• Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• Developmental Psychology
• Clinical Assessment

Background:

• Standardized outcome measures are crucial for evidence-based clinical decision-making in mental health.
• Implementation challenges exist due to a lack of clarity on what and how to measure reliably.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a standardized core set of outcome measures for neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs).
• To create measures applicable across diverse geographic and cultural settings for conditions like ADHD, communication, learning, and motor disorders.

Main Methods:

• An international working group of 27 experts and service users utilized a modified Delphi approach.
• Methods included video conferences and surveys over 16 months, followed by open review and external validation.

Main Results:

• A final set of 14 measures was recommended, covering core symptoms, functioning, quality of life, and coexisting problems.
• Measures assess 12 outcomes across 3 domains and should be administered semi-annually.
• Endorsement by over 70% of professionals and service users in external validation.

Conclusions:

• The developed NDD set addresses key outcomes for patients and caregivers.
• This standardized approach has the potential to enhance clinical practice and research in NDDs.