Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42171964›Full record

ArticleJournal of autism and developmental disorders2026

Factor Structure and Longitudinal Measurement Invariance of the Psychopathology in Autism Checklist.

Arvid Nikolai Kildahl, Marianne Berg Halvorsen, Jane Margrete Askeland Hellerud, Sissel Berge Helverschou

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Article in Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Arvid Nikolai KildahlRegional Section Mental Health, Intellectual Disabilities/Autism, Oslo University Hospital, Dikemarksveien 39, Asker, 1385, Norway. uxarvk@ous-hf.no.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8821-4745
Marianne Berg HalvorsenDepartment of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway.
Jane Margrete Askeland HellerudRegional Section Mental Health, Intellectual Disabilities/Autism, Oslo University Hospital, Dikemarksveien 39, Asker, 1385, Norway.
Sissel Berge HelverschouDepartment of Rare Diseases, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeThe Psychopathology in Autism Checklist (PAC) was developed to screen for mental health disorders in autistic adults with intellectual disabilities, focusing on identifying common mental health symptoms that do not overlap with autism characteristics. The current study aims to examine the factor structure and longitudinal measurement invariance of the PAC.

methodsExisting data from a longitudinal multicentre study of mental health treatment in autistic individuals with intellectual disabilities were used. The PAC factor structure was examined using intake data (n = 201, 60 females, aged 13-68) and the longitudinal measurement invariance was explored using data across the study's three time points (intake, end of treatment, follow-up; n = 173, 56 females, aged 13-68).

resultsThe four disorder-specific subscales of the PAC (psychosis, depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder [OCD]) showed an acceptable but suboptimal fit, while the inclusion of the general adjustment problems (GAP) subscale resulted in a poorer fit. Three of the subscales (GAP, OCD, depression) showed longitudinal measurement invariance, while two did not (psychosis, anxiety), suggesting caution when using the latter subscales for evaluative purposes. An alternative model was identified, comprising 35 of the original 42 PAC items. It showed an improved fit and longitudinal measurement invariance for all five subscales across the three time points.

conclusionThese findings provide a starting point for further development of the PAC. While the alternative model appears to improve structural validity and seems better suited for comparisons over time, further research is needed to determine whether it could also be useful for screening purposes.

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AssessmentAutismMental healthScreeningTreatment

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