Adult ADHD screening in alcohol-dependent patients using the Wender-Utah Rating Scale and the adult ADHD Self-Report Scale

J Atten Disord. 2015 Apr;19(4):328-34. doi: 10.1177/1087054714529819. Epub 2014 Apr 17.

Abstract

Objective: The aim was to analyze the psychometric properties of two screening instruments, Wender-Utah Rating Scale (WURS) that evaluates childhood ADHD and Adult ADHD Self-Report Scales (ASRS) that assesses symptoms in adulthood, in alcohol-dependent patients.

Method: A total of 355 outpatients were included. Conners' adult ADHD diagnostic interview results were used as a gold standard in childhood and adulthood ADHD.

Results: The WURS with a 41 cutoff had a sensitivity of 79.6% and a specificity of 60.3%. The ASRS with a 14 cutoff had a sensitivity of 86.7% and specificity of 66.1%. Analyzing both rating scales in combination, it was observed that patients with positive ASRS and WURS presented a sensitivity of 92.3%. Patients with positive ASRS, but negative WURS, presented a specificity of 73.6%.

Conclusion: WURS and ASRS are useful tools in the diagnosis of adult ADHD in alcohol-dependent patients; with the use of both instruments, the psychometric properties are substantially improved.

Keywords: WURS; adult ADHD; alcohol dependence; assessment; diagnosis.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Alcoholism / diagnosis*
  • Alcoholism / psychology
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / diagnosis*
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / psychology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mass Screening / instrumentation*
  • Middle Aged
  • Personality Assessment / statistics & numerical data
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Psychometrics / statistics & numerical data*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Self Report
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Surveys and Questionnaires*
  • Utah