Data for: Psychometric Properties of an Arabic Modified Childhood Autism Rating Scale 2 Standard Form

Autism is one of the most common neurodevelopmental conditions worldwide, impacting roughly 1 in 36 children, as per the latest estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Autism is associated with lifelong challenges, leading to significant social, educational, and psychological impacts for both the children and their families. Yet, In Iraq, there exists a critical lack of research on this condition to the extent that no official estimate of its prevalence has been reported. This gap severely hinders the ability to provide adequate healthcare and support systems for these children and their families.

To address this gap, the International Branch of Tehran University for Medical Sciences and Al-Subtain Academy for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders have conducted nine studies as a part of a research collaboration titled “Epidemiological, Clinical, and Psychosocial Aspects of Iraqi Children with Autism”

As a part of this collaboration, in this study, we examined the psychometric properties of a modified version of the CARS2-ST scale. This rating scale is widely used to screen for both the presence and severity of autism in clinical and research settings. The tested modification could enhance the utility of this tool in middle- and low-income countries where access to comprehensive IQ testing facilities for these children is in question. Our results have shown that the modified version has good validity, reliability, and diagnostic accuracy that is comparable to the original scale.