Traits and characteristics qualitatively similar to those seen in diagnosed autism spectrum disorder can be found to varying degrees in the general population. To measure these traits and facilitate their use in autism research, several questionnaires have been developed that provide broad measures of autistic traits [e.g. Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ), Broad Autism Phenotype Questionnaire (BAPQ)]. However, since their development, our understanding of autism has grown considerably, and it is arguable that existing measures do not provide an ideal representation of the trait dimensions currently associated with autism. Our aim was to create a new measure of autistic traits that reflects our current understanding of autism, the Comprehensive Autism Trait Inventory (CATI). In Study 1, 107 pilot items were administered to 1119 individuals in the general population and exploratory factor analysis of responses used to create the 42-item CATI comprising six subscales: Social Interactions, Communication, Social Camouflage, Repetitive Behaviours, Cognitive Rigidity, and Sensory Sensitivity. In Study 2, the CATI was administered to 1068 new individuals and confirmatory factor analysis used to verify the factor structure. The AQ and BAPQ were administered to validate the CATI, and additional autistic participants were recruited to compare the predictive ability of the measures. In Study 3, to validate the CATI subscales, the CATI was administered to 195 new individuals along with existing valid measures qualitatively similar to each CATI subscale. The CATI showed convergent validity at both the total-scale (r ≥ .79) and subscale level (r ≥ .68). The CATI also showed superior internal reliability for total-scale scores (α = .95) relative to the AQ (α = .90) and BAPQ (α = .94), consistently high reliability for subscales (α > .81), greater predictive ability for classifying autism (Youden’s Index = .62 vs .56–.59), and demonstrated measurement invariance for sex. Analyses of predictive ability for classifying autism depended upon self-reported diagnosis or identification of autism. The autistic sample was not large enough to test measurement invariance of autism diagnosis. The CATI is a reliable and economical new measure that provides observations across a wide range of trait dimensions associated with autism, potentially precluding the need to administer multiple measures, and to our knowledge, the CATI is also the first broad measure of autistic traits to have dedicated subscales for social camouflage and sensory sensitivity.

中文翻译：

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综合自闭症特征量表（CATI）：开发和验证普通人群自闭症特征的新测量方法


在普通人群中，可以不同程度地发现与诊断出的自闭症谱系障碍在性质上相似的特征和特征。为了测量这些特征并促进它们在自闭症研究中的使用，已经开发了几种问卷来提供自闭症特征的广泛测量[例如自闭症谱商（AQ）、广泛自闭症表型问卷（BAPQ）]。然而，自从它们的发展以来，我们对自闭症的理解已经大大增长，并且可以说现有的测量方法并不能提供目前与自闭症相关的特征维度的理想表示。我们的目标是创建一种新的自闭症特征测量方法，反映我们目前对自闭症的理解，即综合自闭症特征量表（CATI）。在研究 1 中，对一般人群中的 1119 名个人实施了 107 个试点项目，并对用于创建 42 项 CATI 的反应进行了探索性因素分析，其中包括 6 个分量表：社交互动、沟通、社交伪装、重复行为、认知僵化和感觉灵敏度。在研究 2 中，对 1068 名新个体进行了 CATI，并使用验证性因素分析来验证因素结构。使用 AQ 和 BAPQ 来验证 CATI，并招募其他自闭症参与者来比较这些措施的预测能力。在研究 3 中，为了验证 CATI 子量表，对 195 名新个体进行了 CATI 测试，以及与每个 CATI 子量表定性相似的现有有效测量。 CATI 在总量表 (r ≥ .79) 和分量表水平 (r ≥ .68) 上均显示出收敛效度。相对于 AQ (α = .90) 和 BAPQ (α = .95)，CATI 的总量表分数 (α = .95) 也表现出优异的内部可靠性。94），子量表始终保持高可靠性（α > .81），对自闭症进行分类的预测能力更强（约登指数 = .62 vs .56–.59），并且证明了性别测量的不变性。对自闭症分类的预测能力的分析取决于自闭症的自我报告诊断或识别。自闭症样本不够大，无法测试自闭症诊断的测量不变性。 CATI 是一种可靠且经济的新测量方法，可提供与自闭症相关的广泛特征维度的观察结果，从而可能消除执行多种测量方法的需要，而且据我们所知，CATI 也是第一个广泛测量自闭症特征的方法。社交伪装和感官敏感性的专用子量表。