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The Swedish Version of the Diagnostic Interview for Social and Communication Disorders (DISCO-10). Psychometric Properties

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Abstract

Psychometric properties of the Diagnostic Interview for Social and Communication Disorders schedule (DISCO) have only been studied in the UK. The authorised Swedish translation of the tenth version of the DISCO (DISCO-10) was used in interviews with close relatives of 91 Swedish patients referred for neuropsychiatrical assessment. Validity analysis compared DISCO-10-algorithm diagnoses with clinical diagnoses and with Autism Diagnostic Interview Revised (ADI-R) algorithm diagnoses in 57 cases. Good-excellent inter-rater reliability was demonstrated in 40 cases of children and adults. The criterion validity was excellent when compared with clinical diagnoses and an investigator-based diagnostic interview. The DISCO-10 has good psychometric properties. Advantages over the ADI-R include valuable information of the broader autism phenotype and co-existing problems for clinical practice and research.

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Acknowledgments

The study was partly funded by the Swedish Science Council (grant no. 2003–4581) and the Wilhelm and Martina Lundgren Foundation. We are grateful to the patients and parents making this study possible.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden

    Gudrun Nygren, Bibbi Hagberg, Eva Billstedt, Åsa Skoglund, Christopher Gillberg & Maria Johansson

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  1. Gudrun Nygren
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  2. Bibbi Hagberg
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  3. Eva Billstedt
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  4. Åsa Skoglund
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  5. Christopher Gillberg
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  6. Maria Johansson
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Correspondence to Gudrun Nygren.

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Nygren, G., Hagberg, B., Billstedt, E. et al. The Swedish Version of the Diagnostic Interview for Social and Communication Disorders (DISCO-10). Psychometric Properties. J Autism Dev Disord 39, 730–741 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-008-0678-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-008-0678-z

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