title: Diagnostic efficiency of the SDQ for parents to identify ADHD in the UK: a ROC analysis.
abstract: Early, accurate identification of ADHD would improve outcomes while avoiding unnecessary medication exposure for non-ADHD youths, but is challenging, especially in primary care. The aim of this paper is to test the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) using a nationally representative sample to develop scoring weights for clinical use. The British Child and Adolescent Mental Health Survey (N = 18,232 youths 5-15 years old) included semi-structured interview DSM-IV diagnoses and parent-rated SDQ scores. Areas under the curve for SDQ subscales were good (0.81) to excellent (0.96) across sex and age groups. Hyperactivity/inattention scale scores of 10+ increased odds of ADHD by 21.3×. For discriminating ADHD from other diagnoses, accuracy was fair (<0.70) to good (0.88); Hyperactivity/inattention scale scores of 10+ increased odds of ADHD by 4.47×. The SDQ is free, easy to score, and provides clinically meaningful changes in odds of ADHD that can guide clinical decision-making in an evidence-based medicine framework.
authors.affiliation: The Spectrum Centre, Lancaster University, Furness Building, C73, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4YT, UK. g.perezalgorta@lancaster.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Guillermo Perez
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Algorta
authors.affiliation: The Spectrum Centre, Lancaster University, Furness Building, C73, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4YT, UK.
authors.forename: Alyson Lamont
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Dodd
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Argyris
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stringaris
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology and Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Eric A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Youngstrom
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: ADHD; AUC; Evidence-based assessment; Screening