Developmental Disabilities Modification of the Children's Global Assessment Scale

Ann Wagner; Luc Lecavalier; L. Eugene Arnold; Michael G. Aman; Lawrence Scahill; Kimberly A. Stigler; Cynthia R. Johnson; Christopher J. McDougle; Benedetto Vitiello

doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2007.01.001

Developmental Disabilities Modification of the Children's Global Assessment Scale

Ann Wagner, Luc Lecavalier, L. Eugene Arnold, Michael G. Aman, Lawrence Scahill, Kimberly A. Stigler, Cynthia R. Johnson, Christopher J. McDougle, Benedetto Vitiello

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

40 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Interventions for pervasive developmental disorders (PDD) aim to alleviate symptoms and improve functioning. To measure global functioning in treatment studies, the Children's Global Assessment Scale was modified and psychometric properties of the revised version (DD-CGAS) were assessed in children with PDD. Methods: Developmental disabilities-relevant descriptors were developed for the DD-CGAS, and administration procedures were established to enhance rater consistency. Ratings of clinical case vignettes were used to assess inter-rater reliability and temporal stability. Validity was assessed by correlating the DD-CGAS with measures of functioning and symptoms in 83 youngsters with PDD. Sensitivity to change was assessed by comparing change from baseline to post-treatment with change on the Aberrant Behavior Checklist-Irritability and Clinical Global Impressions-Improvement subscale scores in a subset of 14 children. Results: Inter-rater reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] = .79) and temporal stability (average ICC = .86) were excellent. The DD-CGAS scores correlated with measures of functioning and symptoms with moderate to large effect sizes. Changes on the DD-CGAS correlated with changes on the Aberrant Behavior Checklist-I (r = -.71) and Global Impressions Scale-I (r = -.52). The pre-post DD-CGAS change had an effect size of .72. Conclusions: The DD-CGAS is a reliable instrument with apparent convergent validity for measuring global functioning of children with PDD in treatment studies.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	504-511
Number of pages	8
Journal	Biological psychiatry
Volume	61
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2007.01.001
State	Published - Feb 15 2007
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Assessment
autism
children
functioning
pervasive developmental disorder
psychometrics

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Biological Psychiatry

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10.1016/j.biopsych.2007.01.001

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@article{b2587414e20d47e8835049fdade4b788,

title = "Developmental Disabilities Modification of the Children's Global Assessment Scale",

abstract = "Background: Interventions for pervasive developmental disorders (PDD) aim to alleviate symptoms and improve functioning. To measure global functioning in treatment studies, the Children's Global Assessment Scale was modified and psychometric properties of the revised version (DD-CGAS) were assessed in children with PDD. Methods: Developmental disabilities-relevant descriptors were developed for the DD-CGAS, and administration procedures were established to enhance rater consistency. Ratings of clinical case vignettes were used to assess inter-rater reliability and temporal stability. Validity was assessed by correlating the DD-CGAS with measures of functioning and symptoms in 83 youngsters with PDD. Sensitivity to change was assessed by comparing change from baseline to post-treatment with change on the Aberrant Behavior Checklist-Irritability and Clinical Global Impressions-Improvement subscale scores in a subset of 14 children. Results: Inter-rater reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] = .79) and temporal stability (average ICC = .86) were excellent. The DD-CGAS scores correlated with measures of functioning and symptoms with moderate to large effect sizes. Changes on the DD-CGAS correlated with changes on the Aberrant Behavior Checklist-I (r = -.71) and Global Impressions Scale-I (r = -.52). The pre-post DD-CGAS change had an effect size of .72. Conclusions: The DD-CGAS is a reliable instrument with apparent convergent validity for measuring global functioning of children with PDD in treatment studies.",

keywords = "Assessment, autism, children, functioning, pervasive developmental disorder, psychometrics",

author = "Ann Wagner and Luc Lecavalier and Arnold, {L. Eugene} and Aman, {Michael G.} and Lawrence Scahill and Stigler, {Kimberly A.} and Johnson, {Cynthia R.} and McDougle, {Christopher J.} and Benedetto Vitiello",

note = "Funding Information: This study was part of research activities of the Research Units on Pediatric Psychopharmacology (RUPP) Autism Network and funded by the following cooperative agreement grants from the National Institute of Mental Health: U10MH66768 (principle investigator [P.I.]: MA), U10MH66766 (P.I.: CM), and U10MH66764 (P.I.: LS). Janssen Pharmaceutica provided medication for the clinical trial from which some of these data were derived. Drs. Aman, Scahill, and Stigler have affiliations with Janssen Pharmaceutica. ",

year = "2007",

month = feb,

day = "15",

doi = "10.1016/j.biopsych.2007.01.001",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "61",

pages = "504--511",

journal = "Biological psychiatry",

issn = "0006-3223",

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T1 - Developmental Disabilities Modification of the Children's Global Assessment Scale

AU - Wagner, Ann

AU - Lecavalier, Luc

AU - Arnold, L. Eugene

AU - Aman, Michael G.

AU - Scahill, Lawrence

AU - Stigler, Kimberly A.

AU - Johnson, Cynthia R.

AU - McDougle, Christopher J.

AU - Vitiello, Benedetto

N1 - Funding Information: This study was part of research activities of the Research Units on Pediatric Psychopharmacology (RUPP) Autism Network and funded by the following cooperative agreement grants from the National Institute of Mental Health: U10MH66768 (principle investigator [P.I.]: MA), U10MH66766 (P.I.: CM), and U10MH66764 (P.I.: LS). Janssen Pharmaceutica provided medication for the clinical trial from which some of these data were derived. Drs. Aman, Scahill, and Stigler have affiliations with Janssen Pharmaceutica.

PY - 2007/2/15

Y1 - 2007/2/15

N2 - Background: Interventions for pervasive developmental disorders (PDD) aim to alleviate symptoms and improve functioning. To measure global functioning in treatment studies, the Children's Global Assessment Scale was modified and psychometric properties of the revised version (DD-CGAS) were assessed in children with PDD. Methods: Developmental disabilities-relevant descriptors were developed for the DD-CGAS, and administration procedures were established to enhance rater consistency. Ratings of clinical case vignettes were used to assess inter-rater reliability and temporal stability. Validity was assessed by correlating the DD-CGAS with measures of functioning and symptoms in 83 youngsters with PDD. Sensitivity to change was assessed by comparing change from baseline to post-treatment with change on the Aberrant Behavior Checklist-Irritability and Clinical Global Impressions-Improvement subscale scores in a subset of 14 children. Results: Inter-rater reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] = .79) and temporal stability (average ICC = .86) were excellent. The DD-CGAS scores correlated with measures of functioning and symptoms with moderate to large effect sizes. Changes on the DD-CGAS correlated with changes on the Aberrant Behavior Checklist-I (r = -.71) and Global Impressions Scale-I (r = -.52). The pre-post DD-CGAS change had an effect size of .72. Conclusions: The DD-CGAS is a reliable instrument with apparent convergent validity for measuring global functioning of children with PDD in treatment studies.

AB - Background: Interventions for pervasive developmental disorders (PDD) aim to alleviate symptoms and improve functioning. To measure global functioning in treatment studies, the Children's Global Assessment Scale was modified and psychometric properties of the revised version (DD-CGAS) were assessed in children with PDD. Methods: Developmental disabilities-relevant descriptors were developed for the DD-CGAS, and administration procedures were established to enhance rater consistency. Ratings of clinical case vignettes were used to assess inter-rater reliability and temporal stability. Validity was assessed by correlating the DD-CGAS with measures of functioning and symptoms in 83 youngsters with PDD. Sensitivity to change was assessed by comparing change from baseline to post-treatment with change on the Aberrant Behavior Checklist-Irritability and Clinical Global Impressions-Improvement subscale scores in a subset of 14 children. Results: Inter-rater reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] = .79) and temporal stability (average ICC = .86) were excellent. The DD-CGAS scores correlated with measures of functioning and symptoms with moderate to large effect sizes. Changes on the DD-CGAS correlated with changes on the Aberrant Behavior Checklist-I (r = -.71) and Global Impressions Scale-I (r = -.52). The pre-post DD-CGAS change had an effect size of .72. Conclusions: The DD-CGAS is a reliable instrument with apparent convergent validity for measuring global functioning of children with PDD in treatment studies.

KW - Assessment

KW - autism

KW - children

KW - functioning

KW - pervasive developmental disorder

KW - psychometrics

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U2 - 10.1016/j.biopsych.2007.01.001

DO - 10.1016/j.biopsych.2007.01.001

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AN - SCOPUS:33846624142

SN - 0006-3223

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JO - Biological psychiatry

JF - Biological psychiatry

IS - 4

ER -

Developmental Disabilities Modification of the Children's Global Assessment Scale

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Keywords

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