What is available for case identification in autism research in mainland China?

Little is known about research on Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASC) in mainland China. The few available studies in mainland China have shown the screening and diagnostic instruments for ASC used in mainland China were different from the West. Literature on screening and diagnostic instruments and criteria were reviewed and current available instruments were identified and evaluated. Eight screening instruments and two diagnostic instruments were identified. The Clancy Autism Behaviour Scale (CABS), the Autism Behaviour Checklist (ABC) and the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) were the most frequently used instruments in mainland China. They were adopted from the West more than two decades ago for detecting individuals with Childhood Autism but not the whole autism spectrum. Standardised instruments need to be validated and adopted into autism research in mainland China. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.