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The Comprehensive Autistic Trait Inventory (CATI) is a questionnaire designed to measure autistic traits in adults. It was developed to reflect today's understanding of autism, recognising that autistic experiences extend well beyond social communication differences to include areas such as sensory sensitivity, self-regulatory behaviours, and social camouflaging. Unlike many earlier questionnaires, the CATI was created using extensive psychometric testing alongside input from autistic adults, clinicians, and autism researchers to produce a measure that is both scientifically robust and respectful of autistic experiences. Many widely used autistic trait questionnaires were created more than twenty years ago. Since then, our understanding of autism has evolved considerably. The CATI was developed to provide an updated alternative that: • Reflects current understanding of autism • measures both social and non-social autistic characteristics • Uses respectful, accessible language • Provides strong psychometric performance for research and clinical use
You can create a free account on PsyPack to access fillable PDFs, manuals and educational resources for the CATI
All items are scored 1 to 5 (‘Definitely Disagree’ to ‘Definitely Agree’) except items 8, 15, 19, 23, and 28 (highlighted below), which are reversed. Total scale score ranges from 42 – 210, whilst subscales range 7 – 35.
The six subscales are each made up of seven items.
A total score of 147.5 provides the best balance between identifying autistic and non-autistic adults. However, many autistic people score below this value, and many non-autistic people score above it. Scores may also be influenced by other conditions or individual differences that overlap with autistic traits.
Descriptive statistics describing CATI total-scale and subscale scores for the overall sample and separated by autism group.
| Non-Autistic (n = 1,279) | Autistic (n = 1,322) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
25th perc. | 50th perc. | 75th perc. | 25th perc. | 50th perc. | 75th perc. | |
Total CATI score | 97 | 119 | 136 | 148 | 163 | 176 |
SOC = Social Interactions | 15 | 22 | 28 | 25 | 30 | 33 |
COM = Communication | 11 | 14 | 18 | 18 | 22 | 26 |
CAM = Social Camouflage | 15 | 19 | 23.5 | 23 | 27 | 31 |
REG = Self-regulatory Behaviours | 14 | 19 | 24 | 24 | 28 | 31 |
RIG = Cognitive (In)Flexibility | 19 | 23 | 27 | 26 | 29 | 32 |
SEN = Sensory Sensitivity | 14 | 19 | 24 | 24 | 29 | 32 |
CATI is not a diagnostic assessment.
PsyPack can automatically score the CATI assessment and prepare corresponding tables and graphs.
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Further, PsyPack automatically plots a graph to help you easily track progress over time.
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Social Camouflaging Behaviours, Autism Spectrum Disorders
The CATI was primarily developed as a research instrument for measuring autistic traits in adults across both autistic and non-autistic populations. It provides researchers with a comprehensive profile of autistic characteristics that reflects current understanding of autism while maintaining strong psychometric performance.
The CATI may also be useful for:
Although the CATI has been extensively evaluated in large samples of autistic and non-autistic adults, it is not a diagnostic instrument. It should not be used as the sole basis for diagnosing autism or making clinical decisions. Research supports its use as a measure of autistic traits and suggests it may be valuable within broader screening processes, but formal diagnosis should always involve comprehensive clinical assessment.
Self-administered
Clinical
Questionnaire
Adults
About 15 minutes
Since the questionnaire relies on client self-report, all responses should be verified by the clinician, and a definitive diagnosis is made on clinical grounds taking into account how well the client understood the questionnaire, as well as other relevant information from the client.
The CATI is intended to provide a descriptive summary of traits and characteristics qualitatively similar to those found in clinical autism. It is NOT intended to be diagnostic or replace a diagnosis received by qualified clinicians using clinically-validated tools. CATI scores may be influenced by other factors that overlap with autism. If you have any concerns about your scores, please discuss them with your GP.
The CATI should always be interpreted alongside developmental history, clinical interview, behavioural observations, and other validated assessment tools. It should not be used in isolation to diagnose or exclude autism.
English, M. C. W., Gignac, G. E., Visser, T. A. W., Whitehouse, A. J. O., Enns, J. T., & Maybery, M. T. (2021). The Comprehensive Autistic Trait Inventory (CATI): Development and validation of a new measure of autistic traits in the general population. Molecular Autism, 12(1), 37. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13229-021-00445-7