Clinical Research Directory

The DD-CGAS is a clinician-completed scale that provides a global rating of the child's functioning. The score refers to the subject's typical functioning during a specified period of time, usually the week prior to the assessment. It is a global assessment based on all available sources of information and all domains of functioning, including self-sufficiency, communication, social behavior, and academic/school functioning. The score should not be influenced by the specific diagnosis, the perceived cause of dysfunction (e.g., cognitive or physical limitation, environmental constraints, behavioral disturbance), or the type and severity of symptoms. The DD-CGAS is a dimensional scale with scores ranging from 1 to 100, with 1 representing the greatest impairment in functioning and 100 representing the best functioning. Each decile (e.g., 1-10, 11-20) has a specific description. The instrument has excellent replicability between raters and temporal stability.

The PedsQL is designed for children and adolescents between the ages of 2 and 18 years and takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. It is administered as a self-report instrument or via proxy interview. The proxy interview version corresponds to the age of the child (e.g., 2-4 years, 5-7 years, 8-12 years, and 13-18 years). The PedsQL consists of 23 items that assess 4 broad scales, including: physical functioning, emotional functioning, social functioning, and academic functioning. Items are rated using a 5-point Likert scale (0 = never; 4 = almost always), with the total score calculated as the sum of all items considered. PedsQL item scores are inverted and linearly transformed to a 0 to 100 scale, with higher scores indicating a better perception of health-related quality of life. It is important to note that the PedsQL has been validated in children with autism, including parents of children with autism (Vasilopoulou et al. 2016; Perry, N. et al. 2024).

The Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths scale (CANS) (Lyons 2022) is an open source tool widely used to assess the needs and strengths of children, adolescents, and their families, in clinical, educational and social services settings. It is organized into multiple domains that cover various aspects of a child's life. Common domains include life functioning, behavioral/emotional needs, risk behaviors, strengths, caregiver needs and strengths. Additional modules as trauma can be used.The tool uses a scoring system that reflects the level of need or strength in each area. Typically, needs are rated on a scale from 0 to 3, where 0: No evidence of problems; 1: Watchful waiting, preventive action needed; 2: Action or intervention is required; 3: Immediate or intensive action required. Strengths are rated similarly, with higher scores reflecting greater need for action to support the development of each specific strength.