French Autism Mental Status Examination (AMSE) to help identify autism in adults
Validation Study of the Screening Performance of the French Version of the Autism Mental Status Examination Scale as a Tool for Identifying Autism Spectrum Disorder in Adults
This project tests whether a short French AMSE can help non‑expert psychiatrists and psychologists identify autism in adults before referral to specialist centers.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 410 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Paris) |
| Trial ID | NCT06549179 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
The study adds an 8‑item French AMSE and a brief scoring guide to the routine pre‑evaluation completed by trained non‑expert psychiatrists or psychologists for adults seeking an ASD diagnostic workup. Seven days to 12 months later, participants undergo a standard two‑day multidisciplinary evaluation at the expert center (Pitié‑Salpêtrière) with a final DSM‑5 diagnosis. The primary goal is to measure the AMSE's diagnostic performance (sensitivity and specificity) when used by non‑experts, against the expert center diagnosis as the reference standard. The protocol is motivated by prior expert‑administered AMSE results showing high sensitivity (0.91) and specificity (0.93) in a small sample, and aims to confirm usability in routine care.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults (18+) in France who request an ASD diagnostic evaluation, are covered by national health insurance, speak French, and have not already received an ASD diagnosis are the intended participants.
Not a fit: People already diagnosed with ASD, non‑French speakers, pregnant or breastfeeding individuals, those deprived of liberty, patients covered by AME, or cases where the AMSE is not properly completed are unlikely to benefit from this screening approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the AMSE could reduce unnecessary specialist referrals and shorten waiting times by enabling quicker, accurate pre‑screening of adults with suspected autism.
How similar studies have performed: Previous work using experts showed excellent AMSE sensitivity (0.91) and specificity (0.93) in a small sample, but evidence for its performance when used by non‑expert clinicians is limited.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Patient 18 years of age or older * Patient who has requested, either personally, through a relative, or through a healthcare professional, a diagnostic evaluation at a center specializing in ASD diagnosis. * Patient covered by national health insurance Exclusion Criteria: * Patient who has previously undergone a diagnostic assessment resulting in a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) made by a psychiatrist or child psychiatrist * Absence of informed consent (patient or his/her legal guardian) * Pregnant or breast-feeding * Patient deprived of freedom * Non-French-speaking patient and/or parents and/or legal guardians * AMSE not, incorrectly or inadequately completed by non-expert psychiatrist or psychologist * Patient covered by Aide Medicale d'Etat (AME)
Where this trial is running
Paris
- Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital — Paris, France (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Hélène VULSER, MD-PhD
- Email: helene.vulser@aphp.fr
- Phone: 01 42 16 18 25
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.