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Responsiveness of the Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Quality of Life Scale (AAQoL)

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Abstract

Aims

This study examined responsiveness of the Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Quality of Life Scale (AAQoL), which was developed to assess health-related quality of life (HRQL) among adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Methods

Adults with ADHD completed the AAQoL, Conners’ Adult ADHD Rating Scale (CAARS), SF-36, and Endicott Work Productivity Scale (EWPS) at baseline and week 8 of a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of atomoxetine. Clinicians rated symptom severity and improvement (CGI-ADHD-S, CGI-ADHD-I). Responsiveness was examined through effect sizes and association with change in the measures listed previously (Spearman correlations, GLMs).

Results

Analyses included 328 patients (58.8% male; mean age = 36.9 years). All AAQoL scales reflected significant improvement from baseline to week 8 (P < 0.0001). AAQoL change scores were significantly correlated with change in the CGI-ADHD-S (r = −0.37 to −0.50), EWPS (r = −0.43 to −0.63), and CAARS (r = −0.35 to −0.62) (all P < 0.001). AAQoL change scores significantly discriminated among patients with various levels of symptom improvement. AAQoL effect sizes (−0.67 to −1.11) were larger than effect sizes for the SF-36 (0.15 to −0.39).

Conclusions

The AAQoL was responsive to change in symptoms of ADHD, and it appears to be a useful outcome measure for treatments of ADHD in adults.

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Abbreviations

AAQoL:

Adult ADHD Quality of Life Measure

ADHD:

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder

CGI-ADHD-I:

Clinical Global Impressions-ADHD Improvement

CGI-ADHD-S:

Clinical Global Impressions-ADHD Severity

CAADID:

Conners’ Adult ADHD Diagnostic Interview for DSM-IV

CAARS-Self:

Conners’ Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Rating Scale-Self Report: Screening Version

DSM-IV-TR:

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition Text Revision

EWPS:

Endicott Work Productivity Scale

GLMs:

General linear models

HRQL:

Health-related quality of life

SF-36:

Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey

MID:

Minimally important difference

SEM:

Standard error of measurement

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Karin Coyne for psychometric consultation as well as Jodi Shorr and Julie Meilak for production assistance. This study was funded by Eli Lilly and Company.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Health Outcomes Research at UBC, 7101 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 600, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA

    Louis S. Matza

  2. Eli Lilly & Company, Indianapolis, IN, USA

    Joseph A. Johnston & Douglas E. Faries

  3. Malley Research Programming, Inc., Rockville, MD, USA

    Karen G. Malley

  4. The Brod Group, Mill Valley, CA, USA

    Meryl Brod

Authors
  1. Louis S. Matza
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  2. Joseph A. Johnston
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  3. Douglas E. Faries
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  4. Karen G. Malley
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  5. Meryl Brod
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Correspondence to Louis S. Matza.

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Matza, L.S., Johnston, J.A., Faries, D.E. et al. Responsiveness of the Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Quality of Life Scale (AAQoL). Qual Life Res 16, 1511–1520 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-007-9254-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-007-9254-9

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