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Using the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised and the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-Generic for the Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders in a Greek Sample with a Wide Range of Intellectual Abilities

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Abstract

We studied the interrelationship between the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-Generic (ADOS-G), the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) and DSM-IV clinical diagnosis, in a Greek sample of 77 children and adolescents, referred for the assessment of a possible pervasive developmental disorder (PDD) and presenting a wide range of cognitive abilities. The agreement of the ADOS-G and the ADI-R with the clinical diagnosis was estimated as satisfactory and moderate, respectively, while both instruments presented with excellent sensitivity for the diagnosis of autistic disorder along with satisfactory specificity. ADOS-G/ADI-R agreement was estimated as fair. Our results confirm the discriminant validity of ADI-R and ADOS-G in diagnosing pervasive developmental disorders in children and adolescents with a wide range of intellectual abilities.

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Acknowledgments

We wish to thank the parents and children that participated in this study. We also thank our colleagues Margarita Bouranta, psychologist, Sofia Giannopoulou speech therapist, Dimitrios Arvanitis and Konstantina Argyrou occupational therapists, and Vassiliki Dre health visitor who contributed to the clinical assessment of our patients. We also thank Debbie Spain, Cognitive Behavioral Therapist, for the careful editing of the final manuscript.

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Author notes

  1. Elena Paliokosta

    Present address: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, UK

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Child Psychiatry “Agia Sofia” Children’s Hospital, University of Athens, Goudi, 11527, Athens, Greece

    Katerina Papanikolaou, Elena Paliokosta, Sofia Vgenopoulou, Eleni Giouroukou, Vlassis Tomaras & Ioannis Tsiantis

  2. Department of Pediatrics, “Agia Sophia” Children’s Hospital, University of Athens, Athens, Greece

    Giorgos Houliaras

  3. Department of Psychiatry, Eginition Hospital, University of Athens, Vas. Sofias 72-74, Athens, 11528, Greece

    Artemios Pehlivanidis

Authors
  1. Katerina Papanikolaou
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  2. Elena Paliokosta
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  4. Sofia Vgenopoulou
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Correspondence to Katerina Papanikolaou.

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Papanikolaou, K., Paliokosta, E., Houliaras, G. et al. Using the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised and the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-Generic for the Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders in a Greek Sample with a Wide Range of Intellectual Abilities. J Autism Dev Disord 39, 414–420 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-008-0639-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-008-0639-6

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