For this task, the research article by Zander, Sturm, and Bölte (2014) was chosen due to its coverage of two Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnostic and screening tools: the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) and the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS). Zander et al. (2014) studied a sample of 268 children; 171 of them were diagnosed with ASD. The authors compared the application of ADI-R, ADOS, their combinations, and the clinical consensus diagnosis to establish the diagnostic validity of the tools.
Having analyzed the results statistically, Zander et al. (2014) offered some conclusions about the sensitivity and specificity of the two instruments, indicating that ADOS may be preferable. Furthermore, they demonstrated that the incorporation of both tools could result in balanced sensitivity and specificity. The authors suggest that the combination approach may be appropriate for children with suspicion of ASD.
The article’s limitations are noteworthy. The authors studied only a relatively small sample of toddlers and preschoolers from Sweden; therefore, the results may not be applicable to other populations. However, the article contributes to the growing bulk of literature that examines various instruments which can assist in ASD diagnosis. Furthermore, it suggests that their combination can help to achieve improved results. Given the severity of ASD (American Psychiatric Association, 2013; Cepeda & Gotanco, 2016), the significance of ensuring appropriate diagnosis (Carlat, 2012), and the difficulties that specialists encounter when working with children with ASD, the chosen article is significant to the diagnosis discussed in this assignment.
References
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders; DSM-5 (5th ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Publishing.
Carlat, D. (2012). The psychiatric interview. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Cepeda, C., & Gotanco, L. (2016). Psychiatric interview of children and adolescents. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Publishing.
Zander, E., Sturm, H., & Bölte, S. (2014). The added value of the combined use of the Autism Diagnostic Interview–Revised and the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule: Diagnostic validity in a clinical Swedish sample of toddlers and young preschoolers. Autism, 19(2), 187-199. Web.