title: The use of the ADHD self-rating scale (ASRS-6) in the homeless: psychometric properties, alcohol use, and self-nurse agreement.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is prevalent in homeless populations, but no studies have assessed the psychometric properties of assessment instruments for this population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Self-other agreement on the ADHD Self-Rating Scale 6 was studied using a cohort of admissions to an outreach clinic for the homeless (n = 72). Alcohol use was assessed with the fast alcohol screening test. Other drug use was assessed by interview.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For the six-item ASRS-6, the self-nurse correlation was .63 (p < .001). Discriminant correlations were low. Higher ASRS-6 scores as rated by both nurse and self-report were associated with illicit drug use but not alcohol problems. Concordance was lower at higher levels of alcohol problems (p < .05) CONCLUSION: The observations of experienced nurses converge well with self-reported symptoms of ADHD. Further research is needed to assess the relative contribution of clinical observation and self-report in assessing homeless patients.
authors.affiliation: Morten Hesse, PhD, Centre for Alcohol and Drug Research, Aarhus University, Copenhagen, Denmark. Henrik Thiesen, MD, City of Copenhagen HealthTeam, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Morten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hesse
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Thiesen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000451:nursing; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000592:standards*; D015588:Observer Variation; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000592:standards; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000451:nursing; D055815:Young Adult