A longitudinal item response model for Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC) data from children with autism.
This manuscript aims to present the first item response theory (IRT) model within a pharmacometric framework to characterize the longitudinal changes of Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC) data in children with autism. Data were obtained from 120 patients, which included 20,880 observations of the 58 items for up to three months. Observed scores for each ABC item were modeled as a function of the subject's disability. Longitudinal IRT models with five latent disability variables based on ABC subscales were used to describe the irritability, lethargy, stereotypic behavior, hyperactivity, and inappropriate speech over time. The IRT pharmacometric models could accurately describe the longitudinal changes of the patient's disability while estimating different time-course of disability for the subscales. For all subscales, model-estimated disability was reduced following initiation of therapy, most markedly for hyperactivity. The developed framework provides a description of ABC longitudinal data that can be a suitable alternative to traditional ABC data collected in autism clinical trials. IRT is a powerful tool with the ability to capture the heterogeneous nature of ABC, which results in more accurate analysis in comparison to traditional approaches.
['Haem|Elham|E|', 'Doostfatemeh|Marziyeh|M|', 'Firouzabadi|Negar|N|', 'Ghazanfari|Nima|N|', 'Karlsson|Mats O|MO|']
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents D001321:Autistic Disorder D000067290:Behavior Rating Scale D057189:Checklist D002648:Child D002652:Child Behavior D002675:Child, Preschool D004185:Disability Evaluation D005260:Female D006801:Humans D008137:Longitudinal Studies D008297:Male D016896:Treatment Outcome
Aberrant behavior checklist Item response theory Autism’s disease Longitudinal changes of disability