title: ADHD Diagnosis: As Simple As Administering a Questionnaire or a Complex Diagnostic Process?
abstract: The present study investigated the validity of using the Conners' Teacher and Parent Rating Scales (CTRS/CPRS) or semistructured diagnostic interviews (Parent Interview for Child Symptoms and Teacher Telephone Interview) to predict a best-practices clinical diagnosis of ADHD.
  
  
  
  A total of 279 children received a clinical diagnosis based on a best-practices comprehensive assessment (including diagnostic parent and teacher interviews, collection of historical information, rating scales, classroom observations, and a psychoeducational assessment) at a specialty ADHD Clinic in Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada. Sensitivity and specificity with clinical diagnosis were determined for the ratings scales and diagnostic interviews.
  
  
  
  Sensitivity and specificity values were high for the diagnostic interviews (91.8% and 70.7%, respectively). However, while sensitivity of the CTRS/CPRS was relatively high (83.5%), specificity was poor (35.7%).
  
  
  
  The low specificity of the CPRS/CTRS is not sufficient to be used alone to diagnose ADHD. (J. of Att. Dis. 2016; 20(6) 478-486).
authors.affiliation: Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
authors.forename: Ashton
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.affiliation: Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada IWK Health Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada Colchester East Hants Health Authority, Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada penny.corkum@dal.ca.
authors.forename: Penny
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Corkum
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D009674:Nova Scotia; D010290:Parents; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000592:standards; D000070777:School Teachers; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*
keywords: ADHD; assessment; diagnosis; interviews; rating scales; sensitivity; specificity