METHODS: Toddlers were recruited from four primary care clinics between 2018 and 2021. Their caregivers completed the M-CHAT-R/F as well as the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), a well-validated, normed measure of emotional and behavioral functioning. Correlational and group analyses were evaluated to examine relationships between CBCL scales and M-CHAT-R/F scores.
RESULTS: 1765 toddlers were recruited for the study. CBCL scores for the internalizing, externalizing, autism, ADHD, and anxiety scales were all modestly positively correlated with M-CHAT-R/F scores. Compared to toddlers with elevated autism scale scores only, toddlers with elevations in both autism and ADHD/externalizing scales had higher M-CHAT-R/F scores. In contrast, no significant difference in scores were found between toddlers with elevated autism scale scores only compared to those with elevated scores on both autism and internalizing scales.
CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that, for children with elevated autism behaviors, the presence of externalizing symptoms, including ADHD-related concerns, is associated with elevated scores on the M-CHAT-R/F. In contrast, internalizing symptoms did not show an association with elevated M-CHAT-R/F scores among toddlers with elevated autism-related behaviors. Interpretation of the M-CHAT-R/F should include consideration of co-occurring psychiatric conditions, especially externalizing conditions such as ADHD.
方法:在2018年至2021年期间,从四家初级保健诊所招募了幼儿。他们的照顾者完成了M-CHAT-R/F以及儿童行为清单(CBCL),一个经过充分验证的,情绪和行为功能的规范测量。评估相关性和分组分析以检查CBCL量表与M-CHAT-R/F评分之间的关系。
结果:招募了1765名幼儿进行研究。内化的CBCL分数,外部化,自闭症,多动症,焦虑量表与M-CHAT-R/F评分均呈适度正相关。与仅自闭症量表得分较高的幼儿相比,自闭症和ADHD/外化量表均升高的幼儿的M-CHAT-R/F得分较高。相比之下,仅与自闭症和内化量表得分均较高的幼儿相比,自闭症量表得分较高的幼儿之间的得分没有显着差异。
结论:研究结果表明,对于自闭症行为升高的儿童,外化症状的存在,包括多动症相关的问题,与M-CHAT-R/F上的分数升高相关。相比之下,在自闭症相关行为升高的幼儿中,内化症状未显示与M-CHAT-R/F评分升高相关.M-CHAT-R/F的解释应包括对同时发生的精神疾病的考虑,尤其是外化条件,如多动症。