THE STANDARDIZED DIAGNOSIS OF AUTISM, AUTISM DIAGNOSTIC INTERVIEW-REVISED - INTERRATER RELIABILITY OF THE GERMAN FORM OF THE INTERVIEW

The feasibility and reliability of the German form of the revised pare ntal interview to diagnose autism (Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised , ADI-R) was investigated in this study. Brief examples of the descrip tion of formerly and currently used diagnostic guidelines are given an d the outline of the interview algorithm which establishes thresholds for inclusion criteria. An excellent-to-good reliability could be demo nstrated for the main symptoms according to the classification rules o f the ICD-10 and DSM-IV for a sample of autistic subjects at different ages and intellectual levels. The results approve the use of this int erview for research and clinical purposes.