Clinical utility of the BASC-3 PRS F-index for preschoolers diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder

Objectives This study examined whether elevated BASC-3 F-index scores in autistic children reflect invalid responding or genuine behavioral markers of the construct.Methods Caregiver ratings from a rural autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnostic clinic were compared to published BASC-3 norm groups using chi-square analyses.Results Caregivers of autistic children were significantly more likely to produce elevated F-index scores than general and clinical norms, but not compared to the BASC-3 ASD sample. Item-level patterns aligned with behaviors commonly associated with ASD.Conclusions Elevated F-index scores in ASD populations may represent authentic behavioral differences rather than overreporting, highlighting the need for cautious interpretation when evaluating caregiver responses during ASD evaluations.