Specificity of the CAARS in Discriminating ADHD Symptoms in Adults From Other Axis I Symptoms.

OBJECTIVE

In this study, we examined the sensitivity and specificity of the Conners' Adult ADHD Rating Scale-Self-Report: Long Version (CAARS) in 113 adult clinical archival records.

METHOD: Forty-five clients had requested evaluation for ADHD, suggesting problems with attention, and 68 requested other services. To examine the CAARS' ability to differentiate ADHD symptoms from other Axis I symptoms, it was compared with the Personality Assessment Inventory.

RESULTS

The two groups differed significantly on the weighted linear combination of the eight subscales of the CAARS, Wilks's Lambda = .565, F(7, 105) = 11.56, p < .0001, with higher mean scores found among those requesting evaluation of ADHD. z-tests revealed the eight CAARS subscales were more highly correlated with each other, based on the average intercorrelation, than the nine selected clinical scales of the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI; Somatic Complaints [SOM], Mania [MAN], Paranoia [PAR], Schizophrenia [SCZ], Anxiety [ANX], Anxiety-Related Disorders [ARD], Depression [DEP], Borderline Features [BOR], and Antisocial Features [ANT]). Some unexpectedly high correlations were found between the CAARS and PAI clinical scales (MAN and SCZ).

CONCLUSION

The results of the present study were mixed, with some analyses yielding positive results with respect to the CAARS' sensitivity and others suggesting poor specificity.