K-CAT autism version: a better mental health screening tool for children and teens on the autism spectrum

Who could benefit from this research

What this research studies

This project will test how well the K-CAT tool works for youth on the autism spectrum and their caregivers. Researchers will look at reliability, validity, and acceptability, and then modify the tool to create a dedicated K-CAT Autism Version. The study uses surveys with youth and caregivers and gathers feedback from participants and clinicians to guide improvements. The goal is a reliable, valid, and user-friendly measure that can be used in clinical and research settings to identify mental health needs in autism. Phase I involves enrolling about 150 youth-caregiver pairs to compare the existing tool with other measures, followed by Phase II to develop and validate the autism-specific version.

Why it matters

Where this research is happening

• Adaptive Testing Technologies
  Chicago, United States Active

Researchers

• Principal investigator: Cohen, Yehuda — Adaptive Testing Technologies
• Study coordinator: Cohen, Yehuda

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About this research

1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.