Rating scales for the assessment of ADHD

Abstract

Rating scales can be a valuable tool for making a valid diagnosis of ADHD in children, adolescents, and adults. Specifically, rating scales can provide information pertaining to two of the aforementioned DSM-IV-TR criteria for ADHD criteria A and C. For Criterion A, scales with normative data can be used to determine whether a patient is exhibiting symptoms that are statistically more deviant than their age- and gender-matched peers. Criterion C can be evaluated by having raters from different domains of a patient’s life (eg, parents or teachers for children; co-workers or spouses for adults) complete the forms to describe the pervasiveness of the symptoms. These clinical data, when supplemented with appropriate follow-up clinical interviewing, can be an efficient way to collect meaningful information to make diagnostic decisions.