Epidemiologia dels trastorns de l’espectre de l’autisme en població escolar de Tarragona

Identifier:  TDX:2772

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/TDX2772

Authors:  Morales Hidalgo, Paula

Abstract:
The aim of this thesis was to study the epidemiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the school population in two age periods (4-5 years old and 10-11 years old), and to validate and design instruments for the screening of neurodevelopmental disorders in family and school environments. The study had a double-phase cross-sectional design that includes a first phase of screening based on the information provided by families (N = 2 765) and teachers (N = 5555), and a second phase of individualized clinical assessment (N = 557) of all the participants at risk and a control group. The Childhood Autism Spectrum Test showed a high validity and reliability for ASD screening in the Spanish population, with high values for sensitivity (83.9%) and specificity (92.5%). The EDUTEA questionnaire for the detection of ASD and social communication disorder in the school environment presented a two-factor structure, including the factors of communication alterations (α = 0.95) and restrictive patterns of behavior (α = 0.93). A total score of 10 in the EDUTEA provided high values of sensitivity (87%) and specificity (91.2%). The Conners indexes were also valid and reliable for detecting attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in the Spanish population in the family and school environments. The distribution of ASD symptoms was continuous and dimensional in the population, without showing different classes in basis of symptom profile, gender or age. The estimated prevalence of ASD was 1.55% in preschoolers and 1.00% in school-age children. Between 1.84% and 2.59% of the children exhibited subclinical diagnosis and between 3.98% and 6.18% exhibited risk symptoms. The male-to-female ratio was 4:1 and females showed a significantly lower prevalence of risk symptoms, and clinical and subclinical diagnosis.