What is the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS)

The ASRS is a symptom checklist with eighteen questions based on the ADHD diagnosis guidelines established in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). It was developed by a World Health Organization work group to be appropriate both for research and as a screener at an individual level.

The ASRS consists of two parts.

• Part A contains six questions found to be most predictive of symptoms consistent with ADHD, best used as a screening instrument.
• Part B contains the remaining twelve items, which provide additional information about patient symptoms for following up or discussing with patients.

Part A of the ASRS is scored to determine if the results are indicative of symptoms consistent with adult ADHD. Both parts have a shaded area in the raw responses shown in the CBS Health report. Responses in the shaded area contribute to the score in Part A, where four or more responses in this area indicates symptoms consistent with ADHD. In Part B, responses in the shaded area are where clinicians are encouraged to pay closer attention and take action as needed.

Reliability and validity are strong when using Part A of the ASRS as a screening tool. Kessler et al. (2007) found high internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and concordance with clinician diagnoses in a sample of U.S. health plan subscribers. The questionnaire’s strong psychometric properties and brevity make it an appropriate and convenient tool in many clinical settings.

Note that the ASRS is only a screening scale, not a diagnostic test. A trained clinician must follow up with patients who screen positive. See Kessler et al. (2005) for more information on the creation of and recommended usage for the ASRS.