Utility of the ADOS-2 in children with psychiatric disorders

The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2) is commonly used in the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Although it has demonstrated good sensitivity and specificity in research settings, relatively little is known about its utility and accuracy in children and adolescents with co-occurring psychiatric disorders. We investigated this topic in children with acute psychiatric disorders. Our sample consisted of 58 patients, aged 9–18 years, admitted to a child and adolescent psychiatric inpatient unit with a suspected diagnosis of ASD. Both Modules 3 and 4 demonstrated low sensitivity (Module 3: 58.3%; Module 4: 55.6%) and specificity (Module 3: 56.5%; Module 4: 59.5%). These findings suggest that the ADOS-2 should be interpreted with caution while screening for autism in children with complex psychiatric disorders.