The ESSENCE-Questionnaire for Neurodevelopmental Problems – A Swedish School-Based Validation Study in 11-Year-Old Children

PURPOSE: 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<0.05). A cutoff of ≥3 had the highest accuracy (78%) with a negative predictive value of 82%. Ratings >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.