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The Social Communication Questionnaire in a sample of the general population of school-going children

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Abstract

Background

The social communication questionnaire (SCQ) for autistic spectrum disorder was previously validated in clinical populations.

Aims

To describe the distribution of SCQ-scores in the general child population, and identify if traits from all domains of autism are present.

Methods

The SCQ was completed by parents of children attending a mixed-gender primary school of 240 children.

Results

Total SCQ scores ranged from 1 to 20, with a mode 1 and corrected mean of 3.89, SD = 2.77. SCQ items corresponding to all three domains of autism were found in the sample. Some items on the SCQ were answered as “autism-positive” for up to 41.8% of children in the general population sample.

Conclusions

The SCQ has a wide range in the general population, with traits from all three domains of autism. Some items in the SCQ do not discriminate children with autism from other school-going children.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank all the parents who completed the SCQ questionnaires, and the teachers who helped to co-ordinate the return of questionnaires. We would also like to thank Myra O’Regan, statistician for her invaluable advice on statistical analysis. We would like to acknowledge the International Multicentre ADHD Genetics Project (IMAGE), a multisite international effort supported by NIH Grant R01MH62873 to SV Faraone, which assisted in the electronic storage of the data.

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Correspondence to A. Mulligan.

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Mulligan, A., Richardson, T., Anney, R.J.L. et al. The Social Communication Questionnaire in a sample of the general population of school-going children. Ir J Med Sci 178, 193–199 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-008-0184-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-008-0184-5

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