Validity Aspects of the 23-Item Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT) in a Clinical Population of Latvian Children

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Description

The aim of the study was to investigate the validity aspects of the M-CHAT Latvian version. M-CHAT is a 23-item screening tool for evaluating risk for ASD. . A retrospective study was conducted. Patients who visited the outpatient clinic for Pediatric Psychiatry in Children’s clinical university hospital between October 2019 and January 2021 with filled out M-CHAT scale were included. Information about age, sex, M-CHAT, ADOS results were collected.. ADOS was considered as reference. Data were analysed with IBM SPSS Statistics.. 120 patients were included. 67.5%(N=81) were boys, 31.5%(N=39) - girls. Mean age was 34.4±7,8 months. The youngest patient was 14 months old, oldest-47 months old. Only 30,8%(N=37) of the toddlers were in the recommended age range for M-CHAT (under 30 months). The mean M-CHAT score was 7,7(SD=2,8) in boys and 8,1(SD=2,5) in girls, difference was not statistically significant(p=0,64). Only in 1 of the patients the M-CHAT score fell in the low-risk range, 35%(N=42) scored in the moderate risk range and 64,2%(N=77) in the high-risk range. Confirmatory ADOS results were available for 31,7% of patients (N=38). ADOS was positive in 80% of patients in the high-risk M-CHAT group (20 of the 25 patients). The sensitivity of M-CHAT was 74%, and specificity 55%, but the results lacked statistical significance(p=0,135), possibly due to the low number of patients analyzed. The internal consistency of M-CHAT (as measured by the Cronbach’s Alpha) was moderate 0.628. . The level of ASD risk as measured by the M-CHAT is very high in clinical help -seeking population. M-CHAT demonstrated acceptable psychometric properties, but more research is needed in larger patient group to establish the clinical utility of the screening instrument in highly psychopathologically saturated clinical populations.
Period29 Mar 2023
Event titleRSU International Research Conference 2023: Knowledge for Use in Practice
Event typeConference
OrganiserRīga Stradiņš University
LocationRiga, LatviaShow on map
Degree of RecognitionInternational

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