Skip to main content
Log in

Screening Adults for Asperger Syndrome Using the AQ: A Preliminary Study of its Diagnostic Validity in Clinical Practice

  • Published:
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) has been developed to measure the degree to which an adult with normal intelligence has autistic traits. In this paper it is evaluated for its potential as a screening questionnaire in clinical practice on one hundred consecutive referrals to a diagnostic clinic for adults suspected of having Asperger Syndrome or high functioning autism (AS/HFA). The results indicate that it has good discriminative validity and good screening properties at a threshold score of 26. The implications of these results are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameAmerican Psychiatric Association (1994) DSM-IV Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders EditionNumber4 American Psychiatric Association Washington DC

    Google Scholar 

  • J. Barnard V. Harvey A. Prior D. Potter (2001) Ignored or ineligible? The reality for adults with autistic spectrum disorders National Autistic Society London

    Google Scholar 

  • S. Baron-Cohen (2003) The essential difference: men, women and the extreme male brain Penguin London

    Google Scholar 

  • S. Baron-Cohen S. Wheelwright R. Skinner J. Martin E. Clubley (2001) ArticleTitleThe Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ): Evidence from Asperger Syndrome/High Functioning Autism, Males and Females, Scientists and Mathematicians Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 31 5–17

    Google Scholar 

  • D. V. M. Bishop M. Maybery A. Maley D. Wong W. Hill J. Hallmayer (2004) ArticleTitleUsing self-report to identify the broad phenotype in parents of children with artistic spectrum disorders: a study using the Austism-spectrum Quotient Journal of child psychology and psychiatry 45(8) 1431–1436

    Google Scholar 

  • F. Ehlers C. Gillberg L. Wing (1999) ArticleTitleA screening questionnaire for Asperger Syndrome and other high functioning autistic spectrum disorders in school age children Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 29 129–142

    Google Scholar 

  • S. Ehlers C. Gillberg (1993) ArticleTitleThe epidemiology of Asperger syndrome. A total population study Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 34 1327–1350

    Google Scholar 

  • Garnett M., Attwood T. (1995). The Australian Scale for Asperger Syndrome: Paper presented at the 1995 Australian National Autism Conference, Brisbane, Australia.

  • P. Howlin A. Moore (1997) ArticleTitleDiagnosis in autism–A survey of over 1200 patients in the UK Autism 1 135–162

    Google Scholar 

  • S. Leekham S. Libby L. Wing J. Gould C. Gillberg (2000) ArticleTitleComparison of ICD-10 and Gillberg’s criteria for Asperger Syndrome Autism 4 11–28

    Google Scholar 

  • C. Lord M. Rutter A. Le Couteur (1994) ArticleTitleAutism diagnostic interview – Revised Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 24 659–686

    Google Scholar 

  • S. Mayes S. Calhoun D. Crites (2001) ArticleTitleDoes DSM-IV Asperger’s Disorder exist? Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology 3 263–271

    Google Scholar 

  • S. Ozonoff M. South J. N. Miller (2000) ArticleTitleDSM-IV – defined Asperger Syndrome: cognitive, behavioural and early history differentiation from high-functioning autism Autism 4 29–46

    Google Scholar 

  • A. Powell (2002) Taking responsibility. Good practice guidelines for services: Adults with Asperger Syndrome National Autistic Society London

    Google Scholar 

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameStata Corporation (2001) Stata Version 7 Stata Corporation College Station, TX

    Google Scholar 

  • L. Wing (1997) The Autistic Spectrum Pergamon London

    Google Scholar 

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameWorld Health Organisation (1992) The Tenth Revision of the International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10) WHO Geneva

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. R. Woodbury-Smith.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Woodbury-Smith, M., Robinson, J., Wheelwright, S. et al. Screening Adults for Asperger Syndrome Using the AQ: A Preliminary Study of its Diagnostic Validity in Clinical Practice. J Autism Dev Disord 35, 331–335 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-005-3300-7

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-005-3300-7

Keywords

Navigation