PSYCHOMETRIC PROPERTIES OF THE CHILDRENS ATYPICAL DEVELOPMENT SCALE

The Children's Atypical Development Scale (CADS) is a 53-item rating s cale designed to measure unusual behaviors in children. Principal-fact or analysis on a clinic-referred and pediatric sample of 474 children resulted in a four-factor solution: Communication Deficits, Lability, Social Relatedness Deficits, and Preoccupation. The CADS is internally consistent and has adequate temporal stability. CADS factor scores we re differentially associated with parent and teacher rating scales, IQ , and Continuous Performance Test errors. The scale shows promise as a clinical and research tool for assessing atypical behaviors associate d with pervasive developmental disorder and other neurobehavioral diso rders.