The Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale for Screening for Adult Attention Deficit–Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Hines, Joseph L. MD
King, Tonya S. PhD
Curry, William J. MD MS

From Altoona Family Physicians Residency, Altoona, PA (JLH); the Department of Public Health Sciences, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine (TSK); and the Departments of Family and Community Medicine and Public Health Sciences, Pennsylvania State Hershey College of Medicine, Hershey, PA (WJC).

Corresponding author: William J. Curry, MD, MS, Department of Family and Community Medicine/H154, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033 (E-mail: [email protected]).

This article was externally peer reviewed.

Funding: none.

Conflict of interest: none declared.

Submitted 4 March 2012; revised 17 July 2012; accepted 2 August 2012.

Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine 25(6):p 847-853, November-December 2012.

Background

Adult attention deficit–hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is underdiagnosed in the primary care setting despite 3% to 6% of adults having ADHD-like symptoms. The Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale-V1.1 (ASRS-V1.1) is a validated, 6-question screen for adult ADHD. Our purpose was to analyze this tool for evaluating patients in a busy primary care setting.

Methods

The ASRS-V1.1 was administered to patients in 8 busy primary care practices. All with a positive score and a random sample of those with a negative screening score were asked to complete the Conners' Adult ADHD Rating Scale Self Report–Short Version. Each was administered within the clinic setting during the same session. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive/negative predictive values were calculated. Data were evaluated for site-specific differences.

Results

It took an average of 54.3 seconds (range, 22–252 seconds) to complete the ASRS-V1.1. There was an inconsistency-adjusted sensitivity of 1.0, a specificity of 0.71, a positive predictive value of 0.52, and a negative predictive value of 1.0. No site-specific differences were found.

Conclusions

Because of its ease of use, short time to administer, high sensitivity, and moderate specificity, the ASRS-V1.1 is an effective adult ADHD screening to guide further evaluations for ADHD.