Responsiveness of the Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Quality of Life Scale (AAQoL).
OBJECTIVE
This study examined responsiveness of the Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Quality of Life Scale (AAQoL), which was developed to assess health-related quality of life (HRQL) among adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).


METHODS
Adults with ADHD completed the AAQoL, Conners' Adult ADHD Rating Scale (CAARS), SF-36, and Endicott Work Productivity Scale (EWPS) at baseline and week 8 of a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of atomoxetine. Clinicians rated symptom severity and improvement (CGI-ADHD-S, CGI-ADHD-I). Responsiveness was examined through effect sizes and association with change in the measures listed previously (Spearman correlations, GLMs).


RESULTS
Analyses included 328 patients (58.8% male; mean age = 36.9 years). All AAQoL scales reflected significant improvement from baseline to week 8 (P < 0.0001). AAQoL change scores were significantly correlated with change in the CGI-ADHD-S (r = -0.37 to -0.50), EWPS (r = -0.43 to -0.63), and CAARS (r = -0.35 to -0.62) (all P < 0.001). AAQoL change scores significantly discriminated among patients with various levels of symptom improvement. AAQoL effect sizes (-0.67 to -1.11) were larger than effect sizes for the SF-36 (0.15 to -0.39).


CONCLUSIONS
The AAQoL was responsive to change in symptoms of ADHD, and it appears to be a useful outcome measure for treatments of ADHD in adults.
Matza
Louis S
LS
Center for Health Outcomes Research at UBC, 7101 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 600, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA. louis.matza@unitedbiosource.com
Johnston
Joseph A
JA
Faries
Douglas E
DE
Malley
Karen G
KG
Brod
Meryl
M
D000328:Adult; D000069445:Atomoxetine Hydrochloride; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011437:Propylamines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States
D011437:Propylamines; D000069445:Atomoxetine Hydrochloride