Comprehensive Autistic Trait Inventory
The Comprehensive Autistic Trait Inventory, or CATI, is a self-report questionnaire that provides a valid measure of autistic traits in adults in the general population.
It contains 42 statements that span six different areas, or 'dimensions', associated with autism. When it is completed, the total-scale score provides an overall measure of autistic traits, and six subscale scores each provide a measure of autistic traits in a specific area or dimension.
The Six Subscales of the CATI
Social Interactions
Higher scores reflect greater difficulty and/or stress in social situations, particularly with less-familiar individuals. Scores do not necessarily reflect 'social interest' or 'social desire'.
Communication
Higher scores indicate greater difficulty with indirect and non-verbal forms of communication, which might result in misinterpreting others thoughts and/or intentions.
Social Camouflage
Higher scores indicate increased likelihood to engage in 'masking' and/or 'compensatory' behaviours in social situations in order to 'fit in' with others.
Self-Regulatory Behaviour
Higher scores indicate increased prevalence of repetitive physical behaviours.
Cognitive (In)Flexibility
Higher scores indicate greater preference for sameness and resistance to changes in plans or routines.
Sensory Sensitivity
Higher scores indicate greater responsiveness and sensitivity to sensory stimuli. Individuals with very high scores may find certain sensory stimuli to be particularly intolerable or distressing.
The CATI was primarily developed for use by researchers interested in quantifying autistic traits within members of the general population. While it has been examined in large numbers of non-autistic and autistic people, it has not yet been fully clinically-evaluated. While the CATI may be useful in a screening process, it should not be used as the sole assessment tool for diagnosing autism.
The questionnaire was initially designed and psychometrically evaluated by reseachers at the University of Western Australia (UWA), with input from collaborators at The Kids Research Institute Australia and the University of British Columbia. The items and factors were developed and refined in collaboration and consultation with other autism researchers and clinicians, and autistic individuals at the University of Western Australia, and Macquarie University.
Take the questionnaire
Download questionnaire materials
Main development and validation papers
The original paper describing the initial developmnent and validation of the CATI can be found, Open Access, here.
The second paper describing further validation of the CATI, including larger samples of autistic and gender diverse adults, can be found, Open Access, here.
The initial project was supported by an Australian Research Council Discovery Project government grant (DP190103286) and the University of Western Australia. Further validation was supported by a Simons Foundation SFARI Grant (RFA-873809), and Embrace at The Kids Research Institute Australia.