Validation of DSM-IV model of psychiatric syndromes in children with autism spectrum disorders.

Lecavalier et al. (2009) ran a confirmatory factor analysis on the CSI-4. They wanted to know if the DSM-IV psychiatric syndromes measured by the CSI-4 hold together in kids with autism.

The sample was large and the kids were aged 6–12. They checked fit indices to see if the same worry, attention, and behavior problem factors that show up in typical kids also show up in autistic kids.

The fit was acceptable to good. That means the DSM-IV syndromes still form clean, separate buckets when the child also has autism.

In plain words, you can trust CSI-4 profiles to flag anxiety, ADHD, or conduct problems even when autism is present.

Buitelaar et al. (1999) did an earlier DSM-IV field trial and trimmed the PDD-NOS checklist from 12 items to 7. Luc’s work extends that idea: once the autism label is set, the rest of the DSM-IV syndromes still behave the same way.

Murphy et al. (2014) later used CFA to back the DSM-5 two-factor model of autistic traits. Luc stayed inside DSM-IV, but both papers show CFA can confirm tidy factors inside autism samples.

Kaplan-Kahn et al. (2026) found the usual 3-factor Parenting Stress Index does NOT fit parents of preschoolers with ASD; they needed six factors. Luc shows the child side still fits the old DSM-IV map, while A et al. warn the parent side may need a new one.

You can keep using CSI-4 scores to spot anxiety, ADHD, or oppositional defiance in autistic clients without worrying that autism is warping the results. That saves time—no need to hunt for autism-specific comorbidity forms—and keeps your treatment plans grounded in familiar data.