Evaluating the Use of Self-reported Measures in Autistic Individuals in the Context of Psychiatric Assessment: A Systematic Review

J Autism Dev Disord. 2022 Oct;52(10):4355-4374. doi: 10.1007/s10803-021-05323-y. Epub 2021 Oct 13.

Abstract

The current review examined the use of self-report measures in autistic individuals in the context of psychiatric assessments. It focused on inter-rater agreement, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and criterion validity with clinical diagnoses. It also gathered information on constructs measured, the nature of the samples, and the quality of the studies. Thirty-six out of 10,557 studies met inclusion criteria. We found that the majority of studies (1) targeted young people with average or above average cognitive abilities, (2) measured anxiety symptoms, and (3) evaluated parent-child agreement. More studies are needed on individuals with lower cognitive abilities, adults, and other constructs. Studies assessing criterion validity and test-retest reliability are also needed.

Keywords: ASD; Autism; Instrument; Measure; Psychometric properties; Review; Self-report.

Publication types

  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Anxiety / diagnosis
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder* / diagnosis
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder* / psychology
  • Autistic Disorder* / diagnosis
  • Humans
  • Psychometrics
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Self Report