Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment (Sep 2022)
The ESSENCE-Questionnaire for Neurodevelopmental Problems – A Swedish School-Based Validation Study in 11-Year-Old Children
Abstract
Valdemar Landgren,1,2 Leif Svensson,3 Rajna Knez,1,3 Michail Theodosiou,1 Christopher Gillberg,1 Elisabeth Fernell,1 Magnus Landgren,1 Mats Johnson1 1Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre, Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden; 2Department of Psychiatry, Skaraborg Hospital, Skövde, Region Västra Götaland, Sweden; 3Department of Pediatrics, Skaraborg Hospital, Mariestad, Region Västra Götaland, SwedenCorrespondence: Valdemar Landgren, Department of Psychiatry, Skaraborg Hospital, Lövängsvägen, Skövde, Region Västra Götaland, 541 42, Sweden, Tel +46702960450, Email [email protected]: To determine the prevalence of parent-rated developmental concern using the ESSENCE-Q (Early Symptomatic Syndromes Eliciting Neurodevelopmental Clinical Examinations-Questionnaire, 12-items, score range 0– 24) and to ascertain the predictive validity and optimal cutoff level of the instrument in a school-based sample of 11-year-old children.Methods: In a cross-sectional, school-based study, participants underwent a clinical assessment by a physician and a psychologist, teachers and parents completed the SDQ (Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire), medical health records and national tests were reviewed, and parents independently completed the ESSENCE-Q. In a case-conference outcomes were defined as a) the need for further clinical work-up due to suspected neurodevelopmental problems (NDPs) and b) degree of investigator-rated symptoms/impairment from NDPs on the CGI-S (Clinical Global Impression-Severity instrument, range 1– 7, 4– 7 defined as clinically symptomatic). Classification and optimal cutoffs of the ESSENCE-Q were determined using ROC (Receiver Operating Characteristic) analysis.Results: Out of 343 eligible children, 223 enrolled, of whom 173 (50% of all eligible) had a parent-rated ESSENCE-Q. At least one of the 12 possible concerns was reported by parents of 36% of participants. Overall, in 101 (57%) participants a work-up was warranted, and 64 (37%) were clinically symptomatic from NDPs. The AUC of the ESSENCE-Q in detecting need for work-up was 0.70 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.63– 0.77), and the AUC in detecting clinically symptomatic participants was 0.82 (95% CI 0.76– 0.88). ESSENCE-Q ratings correlated positively with CGI-S scores (r=0.48, p 6 conferred few false positives cases with positive likelihood ratios > 10 and positive predictive values of 86% or more.Significance: This study of the ESSENCE-Q in 11-year-old children suggests it might be an acceptable instrument for screening of NDPs in children in middle school, optimally in conjunction with other methods.Keywords: screening, neurodevelopment, school, ESSENCE-Q
