SCQ as a tool for screening ASD comorbidities with ADHD

The aim of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ) to early recognize autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) patients with a comorbidity of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The SCQ is a 40 items questionnaire developed as a screening tool for ASD in children, with yes/no questions (presence of symptoms with a score of 1/ absence of symptoms with a score of 0) and a risk cutoff. We have analyzed 75 questionnaires completed by both parents of the 75 children referred to the Child Neuropsychiatry Unit of the "Aldo Moro" University of Bari for a psychopathological assessment. These patients received a diagnosis of ASD with a comorbidity of ADHD (24) or without a comorbidity with ADHD (51). Results indicate a higher score of SCQ in patients with overlap diagnosis rather than patients with pure ASD. In particular, the items with a higher frequency are deficit in sociability, empathy and impulse control. Furthermore, patients with intellectual disabilities have a higher score. Findings highlight the use of the SCQ in the assessment of ASD population to early detect potential comorbidity with ADHD.