title: Diagnostic Accuracy of the Conners' Adult ADHD Rating Scale in a Postsecondary Population.
abstract: Objective:Clinicians frequently rely upon the results of self-report rating scales when making the diagnosis of ADHD; however, little research exists regarding the ability of self-report measures to accurately differentiate ADHD from other disorders.Method:This present study investigated the ability of the Conners' Adult ADHD Rating Scale (CAARS) to discriminate between 249 postsecondary students with carefully diagnosed ADHD and 507 clinical controls.Results:The overall discriminant validity of the CAARS was 69%, and it had an unacceptably high false positive and false negative rate. At lower prevalence rates, a high score on the CAARS has only a 22% chance of accurately identifying individuals with ADHD.Conclusion:Although the CAARS is an adequate screening measure, it should not be the main method by which a diagnosis is made, as it frequently misidentifies individuals with other psychological complaints as having ADHD. Implications for clinical practice are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Queens University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Allyson G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.affiliation: Queens University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Sylvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nay
authors.affiliation: Queens University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Irene T
authors.initials: IT
authors.lastname: Armstrong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D057566:Self Report
keywords: ADHD; CAARS; Conners’ Adult ADD Scales; diagnostic accuracy; postsecondary population