title: Criterion validity and clinical usefulness of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Rating Scale IV in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as a function of method and age.
abstract: The aim of this research is to analyze Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Rating Scales IV (ADHD RS-IV) criteria validity and its clinical usefulness for the assessment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) as a function of assessment method and age.
  
  
  
  A sample was obtained from an epidemiological study (n = 1095, 6-16 years). Clinical cases of ADHD (ADHD-CL) were selected by dimensional ADHD RS-IV and later by clinical interview (DSM-IV). ADHD-CL cases were compared with four categorical results of ADHD RS-IV provided by parents (CATPA), teachers (CATPR), either parents or teachers (CATPAOPR) and both parents and teachers (CATPA&PR). Criterion validity and clinical usefulness of the answer modalities to ADHD RS-IV were studied.
  
  
  
  ADHD-CL rate was 6.9% in childhood, 6.2% in preadolescence and 6.9% in adolescence. Alternative methods to the clinical interview led to increased numbers of ADHD cases in all age groups analyzed, in the following sequence: CATPAOPR> CATPRO> CATPA> CATPA&PR> ADHD-CL. CATPA&PR was the procedure with the greatest validity, specificity and clinical usefulness in all three age groups, particularly in the childhood.
  
  
  
  Isolated use of ADHD RS-IV leads to an increase in ADHD cases compared to clinical interview, and varies depending on the procedure used.
authors.affiliation: Complejo Asistencial Universitario de Palencia. Salud Mental.
authors.forename: José A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: López-Villalobos
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Andrés-De Llano
authors.forename: María V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: López-Sánchez
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Molinero
authors.forename: Mercedes
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Garrido-Redondo
authors.forename: Ana M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Sacristán-Martín
authors.forename: María T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Martínez-Rivera
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alberola-López
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012494:Sampling Studies; D063189:Symptom Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D013663:Teaching