Evaluation der deutschen Version des Autismus-Spektrum-Quotienten (AQ) - die Kurzversion AQ-k
Abstract
Zusammenfassung.Theoretischer Hintergrund: Autistische Störungen zeichnen sich durch Einschränkungen in den Bereichen Soziale Interaktion, Kommunikation und stereotypes, restriktives Verhalten aus. Bisher existiert noch kein deutschsprachiges Selbstbeurteilungsinstrument, das zum Screening bei Verdacht auf autistische Störung eingesetzt werden kann. Fragestellung: Testtheoretische Analyse des Screening-Fragebogens Autismus-Spektrum-Quotient (AQ). Methode: Die psychometrischen Kennwerte des AQ wurden in zwei nicht-klinischen, einer klinisch-forensischen und einer Stichprobe mit High-functioning Autismus/Asperger Syndrom ermittelt. Ergebnisse: Auf Grund einer teilweise sehr niedriger Trennschärfe der Einzelitems wurde eine Kurzversion des Fragebogens (AQ-k) gebildet, bestehend aus Items mit ausreichender Trennschärfe. Die Hauptkomponentenanalyse des AQ-k resultierte in drei Faktoren (Soziale Interaktion und Spontaneität, Fantasie und Vorstellungsvermögen, Kommunikation und Reziprozität), deren innere Konsistenzen zwischen 0,65-0,87 lagen. Die Retest-Reliabilität war zufrieden stellend, ebenso die externe Validität. Die Sensitivitätsanalyse ergab einen cut-off-Wert von 17. Schlussfolgerung: Der AQ-k eignet sich als Selbstbeurteilungsinstrument zum Screening auf autistische Störung bei normal begabten Personen ab 16 Jahren. Eine Diagnose kann durch das Instrument nicht gestellt werden.
Abstract.Background: Autistic disorders are characterized by deficits in social interaction and communication, and stereo-typed and repetitive behaviour. No German-language self-assessment instrument for screening for autistic disorders has been available so far. Methods: Psychometric properties of the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) screening questionnaire were assessed in four samples: two non-clinical, one forensic and one high-functioning autism/Asperger syndrome sample. Results: Due to the partly very low selectivity of individual items, a short version of the questionnaire (AQ-k) was created, containing only sufficiently selective items. A three factor solution (social interaction and spontaneity; imagination and creativity; communication and reciprocity) was obtained by principal components analysis of the AQ-k. Internal consistency of the three factors was between 0.65 and 0.87. Retestreliability as well as external validity were satisfactory. The AQ-k showed a good discriminative validity and good screening properties at a threshold score of 17. Conclusions: The AQ-k is a reliable and valid self-assessment instrument for individuals with normal intelligence from age 16 years on. It is a screening instrument only and should not be used for the diagnosis of an autistic disorder.
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