Quantifying the relationship between perceived consequences of ADHD medication and its usage.
OBJECTIVE
To address a major barrier of medication noncompliance for individuals with ADHD, the authors present the ADHD Medication Attitude Scale (AMAS) with initial psychometric analyses and discriminant validity data.


METHODS
The AMAS was posted on ADHD websites, along with questions about demographics and medication usage over a 6-month period. A total of 356 ADHD respondents qualified for data analysis (160 males, 196 females, mean age = 18.58, years range = 13-62 years, SD = 6.07).


RESULTS
Factor analysis revealed two factors: one indicating positive and the other indicating negative attitude toward medication. The final refined 22-item scale demonstrated good reliability (α =.83). More positive and less negative attitude factor scores, as well as age (older than 19 years), independently predicted respondents' self-report of taking medication, χ(2) (1, N = 248) = 38.95, p < .001.


CONCLUSIONS
The AMAS is a psychometrically sound means of assessing attitudes toward ADHD medication, which significantly relate to self-reported medication usage.
University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA, USA djc4f@virginia.edu.
Daniel J
DJ
Cox
Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA.
Margaret Taylor
MT
Davis
Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX, USA.
Brian S
BS
Cox
University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
Roger C
RC
Burket
University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
Richard L
RL
Merkel
University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
Amori Yee
AY
Mikami
Center for Disease Control, GA, USA.
Derek
D
Ford
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D001290:Attitude; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D057566:Self Report; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*