McMorran-Young, G., Moran, K., Young, D., Batchelor, G. and Minnis, H. (2021) A quick and reliable waiting room checklist for symptoms of disinhibited social engagement disorder. Developmental Child Welfare, 3(4), pp. 313-327. (doi: 10.1177/25161032211050734)
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Abstract
Background: Disinhibited social engagement disorder (DSED) is a psychosocial disorder, associated with child neglect, characterised by indiscriminate friendliness towards strangers. Some behavioural overlap between DSED and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) – a neurodevelopmental condition whose core symptoms include impaired communication – has been observed. Since DSED is associated with a maltreatment history and ASD is not, differential diagnosis is important. We aimed to establish norms and reference ranges for a clinic waiting room checklist (WRO) for the observation of DSED symptoms, and to examine its discrimination between DSED and ASD. Methods: Norms are provided for the WRO based on 56 children aged 5–12 with DSED and 151 typically developing controls, for whom a reference range is also provided. We modified the WRO based on both quantitative examination of discrimination between DSED and ASD (n = 16) and qualitative observations of typically developing children (n = 7), children with DSED (n = 5) and ASD (n = 6). Results: A WRO score >6 may indicate the need for a multi-informant assessment for DSED. In a waiting room, children from both atypical groups (ASD and DSED) were more likely to approach strangers than controls; however, while children with DSED symptoms appeared to take control of the social aspects of the situation, children with ASD followed a non-social agenda, with the stranger appearing irrelevant. Conclusion: The WRO is an efficient tool that, along with information from parents and teacher, can contribute to clinical decision-making regarding children who have difficulties with social relationships.
| Item Type: | Articles |
|---|---|
| Status: | Published |
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Minnis, Professor Helen and Moran, Dr Kate |
| Authors: | McMorran-Young, G., Moran, K., Young, D., Batchelor, G., and Minnis, H. |
| College/School: | College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Mental Health and Wellbeing |
| Journal Name: | Developmental Child Welfare |
| Publisher: | SAGE Publications |
| ISSN: | 2516-1032 |
| ISSN (Online): | 2516-1040 |
| Published Online: | 30 October 2021 |
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