Diagnostic Accuracy of the Conners' Adult ADHD Rating Scale in a Postsecondary Population

Journal of Attention Disorders
Allyson G HarrisonIrene T Armstrong

Abstract

Objective: Clinicians frequently rely upon the results of self-report rating scales when making the diagnosis of ADHD; however, little research exists regarding the ability of self-report measures to accurately differentiate ADHD from other disorders. Method: This present study investigated the ability of the Conners' Adult ADHD Rating Scale (CAARS) to discriminate between 249 postsecondary students with carefully diagnosed ADHD and 507 clinical controls. Results: The overall discriminant validity of the CAARS was 69%, and it had an unacceptably high false positive and false negative rate. At lower prevalence rates, a high score on the CAARS has only a 22% chance of accurately identifying individuals with ADHD. Conclusion: Although the CAARS is an adequate screening measure, it should not be the main method by which a diagnosis is made, as it frequently misidentifies individuals with other psychological complaints as having ADHD. Implications for clinical practice are discussed.

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Citations

Jun 22, 2018·Journal of Attention Disorders·Joseph Ben-SheetritIris Manor
Nov 28, 2020·Frontiers in Neurology·Maximilian KleimakerAlexander Münchau
Jul 7, 2021·Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology·Benjamin J Lovett, Allyson G Harrison

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