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. 2025 May;55(5):1713-1726.
doi: 10.1007/s10803-024-06324-3. Epub 2024 Apr 13.

Applicability and Psychometric Properties of General Mental Health Assessment Tools in Autistic People: A Systematic Review

Marianne Berg Halvorsen  1 , Arvid Nikolai Kildahl  2   3 , Sabine Kaiser  4 , Brynhildur Axelsdottir  5 , Michael G Aman  6   7 , Sissel Berge Helverschou  2
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Applicability and Psychometric Properties of General Mental Health Assessment Tools in Autistic People: A Systematic Review

Marianne Berg Halvorsen et al. J Autism Dev Disord. 2025 May.

Abstract

In recent years, there has been a proliferation of instruments for assessing mental health (MH) among autistic people. This study aimed to review the psychometric properties of broadband instruments used to assess MH problems among autistic people. In accordance with the PRISMA guidelines (PROSPERO: CRD42022316571) we searched the APA PsycINFO via Ovid, Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid Embase and the Web of Science via Clarivate databases from 1980 to March 2022, with an updated search in January 2024, to identify very recent empirical studies. Independent reviewers evaluated the titles and abstracts of the retrieved records (n = 11,577) and full-text articles (n = 1000). Data were extracted from eligible studies, and the quality of the included papers was appraised. In all, 164empirical articles reporting on 35 instruments were included. The review showed variable evidence of reliability and validity of the various instruments. Among the instruments reported in more than one study, the Aberrant Behavior Checklist had consistently good or excellent psychometric evidence. The reliability and validity of other instruments, including: the Developmental Behavior Checklist, Emotion Dysregulation Inventory, Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory, Autism Spectrum Disorder-Comorbid for Children Scale, and Psychopathology in Autism Checklist, were less documented. There is a need for a greater evidence-base for MH assessment tools for autistic people.

Keywords: Assessment; Autism; Autism spectrum disorder; Mental disorders; Mental health; Psychometrics.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Conflict of interest: Michael G. Aman has been involved in the development of the Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC). Aman has not assessed abstracts/full texts involving the ABC, and did not perform data analyzes/quality assessments for the ABC. The other authors handled data related to the ABC. Financial disclosures for Aman: Scientific Advisory Board, PaxMedica Pharmaceuticals; sale royalties, Aberrant Behavior Checklist. Sissel Berge Helverschou has been involved in the development of the Psychopathology in Autism Checklist (PAC), but has no financial or legal interest in its use or dissemination. Helverschou and Arvid Nikolai Kildahl, who are part of the same research group, have not assessed abstracts/full texts involving the PAC, and did not perform data analyzes/quality assessments for the PAC. MBH and SK handled data related to PAC.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
PRISMA flow diagram
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