title: Reliability and Validity of the Before-School Functioning Scale in Children With ADHD.
abstract: Children with ADHD frequently manifest behavioral difficulties in the morning prior to school. We sought to assess the reliability and validity of the Before-School Functioning Questionnaire (BSFQ) as a measure of morning behaviors impaired by ADHD.
  
  
  
  We used pre-treatment data from a randomized crossover study of 6- to 12-year-old participants comparing the methylphenidate transdermal delivery system (MTS) with a placebo transdermal system (PTS) for a total of 4 weeks.
  
  
  
  The BSFQ investigator-rated scale shows very good internal homogeneity (Cronbach's α = .91), good test-retest reliability ( r = .60), good concurrent validity ( r range = .42-.86), and a strong treatment effect (effect size = -.93). The self-rated BSFQ showed lower levels of reliability and validity.
  
  
  
  The investigator-rated BSFQ should be used in future trials of ADHD medications aimed at assessing efficacy in the morning before school.
authors.affiliation: 1 State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, USA.
authors.forename: Stephen V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Faraone
authors.affiliation: 2 Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, USA.|3 Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Paul G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Hammerness
authors.affiliation: 2 Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, USA.|3 Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Timothy E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Wilens
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000067290:Behavior Rating Scale; D002648:Child; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D056344:Executive Function / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012572:School Health Services; D012574:Schools; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D057968:Transdermal Patch; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; D008774:Methylphenidate
keywords: ADHD; before school; children and adolescents; functioning; morning