A Validation Study of the Korean Child Behavior Checklist 1.5-5 in the Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder and Non-Autism Spectrum Disorder

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to analyze the discriminant validity and the clinical cut off scores of the Child Behavior Checklist 1.5-5 (CBCL 1.5-5) in the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and non-ASD. Methods: In total, 104 ASD and 441 non-ASD infants were included in the study. T-test, discriminant analysis, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, and odds ratio analysis were performed on the data. Results: The discriminant validity was confirmed by mean differences and discriminant analysis on the subscales of Emotionally reactive, Somatic complaints, Withdrawn, Sleep problems, Attention problems, Aggressive behavior, Internalizing problems, Externalizing problems, and Total problems, along with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)-oriented scales between the two groups. ROC analysis showed that the following subscales significantly separated ASD from normal infants: Emotionally reactive, Somatic complaints, Withdrawn, Sleep problems, Attention problems, Aggressive behavior, Internalizing problems, Externalizing problems, Total problems, and DSM pervasive developmental problems. Moreover, the clinical cut off score criteria adopted in the Korean-CBCL 1.5-5 were shown to be valid for the subscales Withdrawn, Internalizing problems, Externalizing problems, Total problems, and DSM pervasive developmental problems. Conclusion: The subscales of Withdrawn, Internalizing problems, Externalizing problems, Total problems, and DSM pervasive developmental problems significantly discriminated infants with ASD.