Questionnaire Formats for ADHD

No longer recruiting at 2 trial locations

Overseen By Roni Kraut

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Alberta

Disqualifiers: Cognitive impairment, Unable to read English, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 2

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to improve the ASRS questionnaire's effectiveness in screening for ADHD in adults by testing various formats. Researchers believe the current format may allow individuals to easily guess answers that result in a positive outcome. Participants will try different versions of the form, with changes in shading and question grouping, to determine if these adjustments lead to more accurate screenings. Individuals visiting a family medicine clinic with at least five minutes to spare in the waiting area might be a good fit for the trial. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the development of more accurate ADHD screening tools.

Do I have to stop taking my current medications for this trial?

The trial protocol does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What prior data suggests that this questionnaire format is safe for participants?

Research has shown that the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) is a widely used tool to identify ADHD symptoms in adults. The ASRS is neither a medication nor a medical procedure, so it carries no side effects or risks. It is simply a questionnaire that helps identify symptoms.

In the trial under consideration, researchers are testing different versions of this questionnaire to determine if changing the format improves accuracy. Since this involves only the presentation of questions on paper, there are no safety concerns. Participants will fill out different versions of the questionnaire. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this ADHD study because it's exploring how different formats of the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) questionnaire might impact diagnosis. The study is looking at variations where the questionnaire is presented without shading or grouping, which could change how people respond to it. This is a big deal because the standard ASRS uses shading to highlight positive responses and groups questions, which might influence answers. By testing these new formats, researchers hope to find a more effective way to identify ADHD symptoms, potentially leading to better diagnosis and treatment strategies.

What evidence suggests that this trial's questionnaire formats could be effective for improving ADHD screening?

Research shows that the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS v1.1) effectively identifies ADHD symptoms in adults. Studies have found that it accurately checks for symptoms matching ADHD criteria. The ASRS is popular due to its quick and easy use. However, some concerns exist that its design might make it easy to guess which answers suggest ADHD. This trial tests new versions of the ASRS to address these issues while still effectively identifying ADHD symptoms. Participants will receive different formats of the ASRS, such as versions with or without shading and with or without grouping, to evaluate their effectiveness. ^{1 2 3 4 6}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Roni Kraut

Principal Investigator

University of Alberta

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for individuals who are being screened for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in family medicine clinics. The eligibility criteria details are not provided, so it's unclear who exactly can or cannot participate.

Inclusion Criteria

I am between 19 and 65 years old.

Patients who are registering for their appointment at the family medicine clinic

I expect to wait in the reception area for 5 minutes or more before my clinic visit.

Exclusion Criteria

I am able to complete forms and do not have cognitive impairments.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1 week

1 visit (in-person)

Survey Administration

Participants complete a survey including demographic questions and one of four versions of the ASRS

5 minutes

1 visit (in-person)

Data Analysis

Data from the surveys is analyzed to determine the impact of ASRS format on screening results

2 months

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for any additional feedback or outcomes post-survey

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Altered ASRS format

Trial Overview The study is testing different formats of the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS). It compares three versions: one without shading and with grouping, another with shading but no grouping, and a third without either feature.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: ASRS without shading and without grouping Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

These participants will receive the ASRS form that does not have shading for the screen positive response options and has the questions ungrouped (ie, the headings "Part A" and "Part B" are removed).

Group II: ASRS without shading and with grouping Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

These participants will receive the ASRS form that does not have shading for the screen positive response options and has the questions grouped (ie, the headings "Part A" and "Part B" will remain on the form).

Group III: ASRS with shading and without grouping Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

These participants will receive the ASRS form that has the screen positive response options shaded and has the questions ungrouped (ie, the headings "Part A" and "Part B" are removed).

Group IV: Standard ASRS: with shading and with grouping Active Control 1 Intervention

These participants will receive the standard ASRS form. This form has the positive response options for each question shaded and has the questions grouped (ie, the headings "Part A" and "Part B" will remain on the form).

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Alberta

Lead Sponsor

Trials

957

Recruited

437,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

The ASRS-6 scale effectively distinguishes between inattentiveness and hyperactivity as two correlated but independent constructs in both university students and outpatients, based on a study involving 234 students and 157 outpatients.

The scale demonstrated good test-retest reliability for both subscales, with correlation coefficients of 0.70 for hyperactivity and 0.77 for inattentiveness, indicating it is a reliable tool for assessing these symptoms in adults.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The ASRS-6 has two latent factors: attention deficit and hyperactivity. Hesse, M.[2022]

The study involved 1014 adults and compared the effectiveness of the shorter 8-item Wender-Utah Rating Scale (WURS-8) to the longer 25-item version (WURS-25) in predicting adult ADHD.

Both the WURS-8 and WURS-25 showed similar predictive power for adult ADHD, making the WURS-8 a valid and efficient tool for screening in large studies, as it retains effectiveness while being more concise.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Retrospective assessment of childhood ADHD symptoms for diagnosis in adults: validity of a short 8-item version of the Wender-Utah Rating Scale. Das, D., Vélez, JI., Acosta, MT., et al.[2019]

In a study of 22,397 US adults, those diagnosed with ADHD reported significantly higher symptom burden, with 58.1% experiencing depression and 53.1% experiencing anxiety, compared to those without ADHD.

ADHD medication users also reported higher rates of comorbid conditions like depression and anxiety, indicating that while medication may help, many adults with ADHD still face substantial mental health challenges.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Establishing US norms for the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS-v1.1) and characterising symptom burden among adults with self-reported ADHD. Adler, LA., Faraone, SV., Sarocco, P., et al.[2021]

In a study of 1,080 college students, those with a clinical diagnosis of ADHD reported significantly higher symptoms on the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) compared to those without a diagnosis, indicating the scale's effectiveness in identifying ADHD symptoms.

Interestingly, 10.3% of participants without a clinical diagnosis exhibited high levels of ADHD symptoms, suggesting that many undiagnosed individuals could benefit from further clinical assessment for ADHD.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Self-reported adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms among college students. Garnier-Dykstra, LM., Pinchevsky, GM., Caldeira, KM., et al.[2021]

The ADHD Self-Report Scale Screener (ASRS) has been validated for use among adolescents, showing good reliability and internal consistency in a study of 2,472 middle and high school students.

Scores from the ASRS Screener were strongly correlated with hyperactivity/inattention symptoms measured by the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, indicating its effectiveness in identifying ADHD symptoms in this age group.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evidence for the reliability and preliminary validity of the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale v1.1 (ASRS v1.1) Screener in an adolescent community sample. Green, JG., DeYoung, G., Wogan, ME., et al.[2021]

The Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS) demonstrated excellent diagnostic accuracy for adult ADHD with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.956, indicating it is highly effective in distinguishing between ADHD patients and population controls.

The Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) also showed strong diagnostic performance with an AUC of 0.904, and its short screener version performed similarly, suggesting that both tools are reliable for assessing ADHD in adults.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Validity and accuracy of the Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Self-Report Scale (ASRS) and the Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS) symptom checklists in discriminating between adults with and without ADHD. Brevik, EJ., Lundervold, AJ., Haavik, J., et al.[2021]

The ASRS-6, a short version of the ADHD Self-Report Scale, has been validated for use in the general population, demonstrating adequate validity in measuring ADHD symptoms.

The scale effectively distinguishes between inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity, confirming that both are important aspects of ADHD, although they are not always necessary for a diagnosis.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Testing the Discriminant and Convergent Validity of the World Health Organization Six-Item Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale Screener Using the Stockholm Public Health Cohort. Lundin, A., Kosidou, K., Dalman, C.[2020]

The six-question World Health Organization Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) Screener demonstrated strong reliability and validity in a study of 668 health plan subscribers, making it a useful tool for identifying adult ADHD.

The ASRS Screener showed a high concordance with clinician diagnoses, achieving an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.90, indicating its effectiveness in distinguishing between individuals with and without ADHD.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Validity of the World Health Organization Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) Screener in a representative sample of health plan members. Kessler, RC., Adler, LA., Gruber, MJ., et al.[2023]

A study involving 299 participants (171 with ADHD and 128 without) found a strong correlation between self-reported ADHD symptoms using the ASRS and clinician-rated symptoms using the AISRS, indicating that self-assessments can be reliable.

The agreement between the ASRS and AISRS was significant across various ADHD symptoms, including inattention and emotional dysfunction, suggesting that both assessment methods are effective for diagnosing and understanding adult ADHD.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

How Informative Are Self-Reported Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms? An Examination of the Agreement Between the Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Self-Report Scale V1.1 and Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Investigator Symptom Rating Scale. Silverstein, MJ., Faraone, SV., Alperin, S., et al.[2022]

Citations

1. novopsych.com novopsych.com/assessments/diagnosis/adult-adhd-self-report-scale-asrs/

Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) The Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS v1.1) is an 18-item self-report questionnaire designed to assess Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) ...

2. add.org add.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/adhd-questionnaire-ASRS111.pdf

Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS-v1.1) Symptom ... Six of the eighteen questions were found to be the most predictive of symptoms consistent with. ADHD. These six questions are the basis for the ASRS v1.1 ...

3. psychology-tools.com psychology-tools.com/test/adult-adhd-self-report-scale

Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRSv1.1) - Psychology Tools Validation studies have supported the reliability and validity of the ASRS v1.1 in identifying adult ADHD, indicating its effectiveness as a component of a ...

4. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15841682/

The World Health Organization Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale ... The ASRS includes 18 questions about frequency of recent DSM-IV Criterion A symptoms of adult ADHD. The ASRS screener consists of six out of these 18 questions.

5. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd-6-2024-2b6af

Questionnaire Formats for ADHD · Info for Participants Yes, the Altered ASRS format is a promising treatment for ADHD because it is a reliable and valid tool for screening ADHD symptoms. It is brief, easy to use, ...

6. hcp.med.harvard.edu hcp.med.harvard.edu/ncs/asrs.php

ASRS v1.1 Screener-English (PDF) Adult ADHD Self-Report Scales (ASRS). We have had many requests from people who want to post the ADHD-ASRS v1.1 instruments on their websites.