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. 2023 Jan 1;34(1):45-50.
doi: 10.5765/jkacap.220027.

A Validation Study of the CARS-2 Compared With the ADOS-2 in the Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Suggestion for Cutoff Scores

Seong-In Ji  1 , Hyungseo Park  1 , Sun Ah Yoon  1 , Soon-Beom Hong  2   3
Affiliations

A Validation Study of the CARS-2 Compared With the ADOS-2 in the Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Suggestion for Cutoff Scores

Seong-In Ji et al. J Korean Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. .

Abstract

Objectives: This study examined the validity of the Childhood Autism Rating Scale, Second Edition (CARS-2) compared with the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2) in identifying autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Methods: A total of 237 children were tested using both the CARS-2 and ADOS-2. We examined the correlation using Pearson's correlation analysis. In addition, we used a receiver operating characteristic graph to determine the optimal standard version of the CARS-2 (CARS2-ST) cutoff score for ASD diagnosis using the ADOS-2.

Results: The concurrent validity of the CARS2-ST was demonstrated by a significant correlation with the ADOS-2 (r=0.864, p<0.001). The optimal CARS2-ST cutoff scores were 30 and 28.5 for identifying autism and autism spectrum, respectively, based on the ADOS-2.

Conclusion: We suggest a newly derived CARS2-ST cutoff score of 28.5 for screening ASD and providing early intervention.

Keywords: ADOS-2; Autism spectrum disorder; CARS-2; Diagnosis; Screening.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest The authors have no potential conflicts of interest to disclose.

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