Monitoring quality of life in adults with ADHD: reliability and validity of a new measure.
OBJECTIVE
To develop and evaluate a questionnaire, the ADHD Impact Module for Adults (AIM-A), to dimension quality of life for adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).


METHODS
Six multi-item AIM scales were developed and evaluated in 317 participants enrolled in an open-label trial. Multitrait scaling analysis and correlations between the AIM-A and the ADHD Rating Scale were evaluated. Differences in scale scores based on severity (clinician rated), subtype, previous medication experience, and sensitivity to change were examined, and F statistics were compared for the AIM-A and the ADHD Rating Scale.


RESULTS
100-80% scaling successes were observed for the AIM-A scales. Alpha coefficients were >or=.83. Significant correlations were observed (range: .494 to .200). The AIM-A discriminated based on severity, subtype, and medication experience (p <or= .01) and was sensitive to change (n = 23, p <or= .001).


CONCLUSIONS
Psychometric findings are encouraging. Future efforts will examine validity and responsiveness in larger clinical samples with different therapeutic interventions.
Landgraf
Jeanne M
JM
jml@healthactchq.com
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires