An alternative scoring system has also been employed that uses a 4-point Likert scale. Responses are scored using a binary system, where an endorsement of the autistic trait (either mildly or strongly) is scored as a +1, while the opposite response is scored as a 0, leading to a maximum score on the AQ of 50. Individuals are instructed to respond to each of the 50 items with one of four responses: ‘definitely agree’, ‘slightly agree’, ‘slightly disagree’, and ‘definitely disagree’. The AQ was designed for adults with average IQ or above, who comprise at least 50% of the autism spectrum. While the AQ is not the only research tool used to measure autistic traits (for example, see the SRS (Social Responsiveness Scale ), it has several advantages over other measures, including subscales for both social and nonsocial aspects of behavior and cognition and a format that is brief, self-administered, and forced-choice. The AQ has 50 items, which are divided into five subscales consisting of 10 items each that assess domains of cognitive strengths and difficulties related to ASC: communication, social skills, imagination, attention to detail and attention switching. A toddler version also exists (Q-CHAT (Quantitative Checklist for Autism in Toddlers) ). The AQ was first developed as a self-report measure for adults and subsequently as a parent-report measure for adolescents (aged 12 to 15 years) and for children (aged 4 to 11 years). The Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ) is widely used in research and clinical practice to quantify autistic traits. It may be that ‘syndromic’ forms of autism, which often entail comorbid learning disability (or below average IQ) and a known genetic mutation, are discontinuous with autistic traits in the general population, but here the focus is on the general population without learning disability. From observed data of measured autistic traits, people with a diagnosis of an autism spectrum condition (ASC) - at least those who have average IQ or above - score at the extreme end of this distribution. Finally, we advise future researchers to avoid risk of bias by carefully considering the recruitment strategy for both clinical and nonclinical groups and to demonstrate transparency by reporting recruitment methods for all participants.Īutism was traditionally considered as a clinical condition distinct from the general population, but recent evidence suggests autistic traits are continuously distributed across the population. Here, we confirm previous norms with more rigorous data and for the first time establish average AQ scores based on a systematic review, for populations of adult males and females with and without ASC. These findings have implications for the study of autistic traits in the general population. In addition, in the nonclinical population, a sex difference in autistic traits was found, although no sex difference in AQ score was seen in the clinical ASC population. Mean AQ score for the nonclinical population was 16.94 (95% CI 11.6, 20.0), while mean AQ score for the clinical population with ASC was found to be 35.19 (95% CI 27.6, 41.1). Inclusion was based on a set of formalized criteria that evaluated the quality of the study, the usage of the AQ, and the population being assessed.Īfter selection, 73 articles, detailing 6,934 nonclinical participants, as well as 1,963 matched clinical cases of ASC (from available cohorts within each individual study), were analyzed. The present study reports a comprehensive systematic review of the literature to estimate a reliable mean AQ score in individuals without a diagnosis of an autism spectrum condition (ASC), in order to establish a reference norm for future studies.Ī systematic search of computerized databases was performed to identify studies that administered the AQ to nonclinical participant samples representing the adult male and female general population. However, there has been no empirical systematic review of the AQ since its inception in 2001. It is frequently cited in diverse fields and has been administered to adults of at least average intelligence with autism and to nonclinical controls, as well as to clinical control groups such as those with schizophrenia, prosopagnosia, anorexia, and depression. The Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ) is a self-report measure of autistic traits.
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