Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis of the Child Behavior Checklist and Teacher’s Report Form for assessing autism spectrum disorder in preschool-aged children

Figures & data

Figure 1 Group differences in CBCL (1.5–5 years) dimensions scores.

Notes: Relative to the non-ASD comparison control group, the ASD group had significantly higher scores in the ASP and W dimensions as well as in the DP, IP, and TP dimensions. *p<0.05.
Abbreviations: ASD, autism spectrum disorder; ASP, autism spectrum problems; CBCL, Child Behavior Checklist; DP, depressive problems; IP, internalizing problems; TP, total problems; W, withdrawn.

Figure 2 ROC curves for the ASP (A) and W (B) dimensions of the CBCL (1.5–5 years).

Abbreviations: ASP, autism spectrum problems; AUC, area under the curve; CBCL, Child Behavior Checklist; ROC, receiver operating characteristic; W, withdrawn.

Table 1 ROC analysis of screening ability of the CBCL (1.5–5 years)

CBCL dimension	AUC	p-value	Cutoff point	95% CI	Sensitivity	Specificity
Emotionally reactive	–	0.196	–	–	–	–
Anxious/depressed	–	0.813	–	–	–	–
Somatic complaints	–	0.223	–	–	–	–
Withdrawn	0.768	<0.001*	63	0.65–0.86	71.0	69.2
Sleep problems	–	0.275	–	–	–	–
Attention problems	–	0.128	–	–	–	–
Aggressive behavior	–	0.324	–	–	–	–
Depressive problems	0.666	0.009*	56	0.54–0.77	67.7	61.5
Anxiety problems	–	0.171	–	–	–	–
Autism spectrum problems	0.781	<0.001*	70	0.67–0.87	80.6	71.8
Attention deficit/hyperactivity problems	–	0.236	–	–	–	–
Oppositional defiant problems	–	0.976	–	–	–	–
Internalizing problems	0.687	0.002*	61	0.56–0.79	71.0	71.8
Total problems	0.678	0.005*	56	0.55–0.78	51.6	87.2

Note:

* p<0.05.

Abbreviations: AUC, area under the curve; CBCL, Child Behavior Checklist; ROC, receiver operating characteristic.

Figure 3 Group differences in C-TRF dimensions scores.

Notes: Relative to the non-ASD control group, the ASD group had very significantly higher scores in the ASP and W dimensions as well as significantly higher scores in the ER, AP, IP, and TP dimensions. *p<0.05.
Abbreviations: ASD, autism spectrum disorder; ASP, autism spectrum problems; AP, attention problems; C-TRF, Caregiver-Teacher Report Form; ER, emotionally reactive; IP, internalizing problems; TP, total problems; W, withdrawn.

Figure 4 ROC curves for the ASP (A) and W (B) dimensions of the C-TRF.

Abbreviations: ASP, autism spectrum problems; AUC, area under the curve; C-TRF, Caregiver-Teacher Report Form; ROC, receiver operating characteristic; W, withdrawn.

Table 2 ROC analysis for screening ability of the C-TRF

C-TRF dimension	AUC	p-value	Cutoff point	95% CI	Sensitivity	Specificity
Emotionally reactive	0.675	0.007	63	0.55–0.78	70.0	60.5
Anxious/depressed	–	0.214	–	–	–	–
Somatic complaints	–	0.183	–	–	–	–
Withdrawn	0.763	<0.001*	66	0.64–0.86	80.6	60.5
Attention problems	0.654	0.018*	64	0.53–0.76	71.0	63.2
Aggressive behavior	–	0.499	–	–	–	–
Depressive problems	–	0.229	–	–	–	–
Anxiety problems	–	0.084	–	–	–	–
Autism spectrum problems	0.790	<0.001*	62	0.67–0.88	53.3	94.7
Attention deficit/hyperactivity problems	–	0.136	–	–	–	–
Oppositional defiant problems	–	0.363	–	–	–	–
Internalizing problems	0.694	0.002*	68	0.57–0.80	83.9	50.0
Total problems	0.644	0.029*	64	0.51–0.75	54.8	73.7

Note:

* p<0.05.

Abbreviations: AUC, area under the curve; C-TRF, Caregiver-Teacher Report Form; ROC, receiver operating characteristic.