Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Self-Report Scale (ASRS)

  • Living reference work entry
  • First Online:
International Handbook of Behavioral Health Assessment

Abstract

Adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a highly impairing condition. Effective treatments exist, underscoring the importance of identifying adults with ADHD. To address the need for a brief screening tool to identify adult ADHD, the World Health Organization (WHO) Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) version 1.1 was developed. The complete Adult ASRS v1.1 Symptom Checklist consists of 18 items, but analyses of community samples showed that a short screening scale with only 6 of these items (Part A of the final scale) has good accuracy in classifying individuals as meeting criteria for probable ADHD according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV), making it efficient to use as a brief screen in busy clinical practices. This 6-item Adult ASRS v1.1 screener is reliable, well-validated, and has been translated into more than 20 languages. The ASRS for DSM-5 (ASRS-5) screener was subsequently developed to be calibrated to DSM-5 ADHD criteria using novel machine learning methods. However, there has been less research on the psychometric properties of the ASRS-5 screener compared to the ASRS v1.1 screener, including its clinical utility as an efficient screening tool for diagnosing ADHD, the focus of the current review.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adler, L. A., Dirks, B., Deas, P., Raychaudhuri, A., Dauphin, M., Saylor, K., & Weisler, R. (2013). Self-reported quality of life in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and executive function impairment treated with lisdexamfetamine dimesylate: A randomized, double-blind, multicenter, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study. BMC Psychiatry, 13, 253. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-244x-13-253

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Adler, L. A., Shaw, D. M., Spencer, T. J., Newcorn, J. H., Hammerness, P., Sitt, D. J., Minerly, C., Davidow, J. V., & Faraone, S. V. (2012). Preliminary examination of the reliability and concurrent validity of the attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder self-report scale v1.1 symptom checklist to rate symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in adolescents. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, 22(3), 238–244. https://doi.org/10.1089/cap.2011.0062

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Alaheino, L., & Leppämäki, S. (2017). Prevalence of ADHD symptoms among adults in the general population in Finland. European Psychiatry, 41, S352. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpsy.2017.02.331

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ambrosini, P. J. (2000). Historical development and present status of the schedule for affective disorders and schizophrenia for school-age children (K-SADS). Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 39(1), 49–58. https://doi.org/10.1097/00004583-200001000-00016

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed., text rev. ed.). American Psychiatric Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). American Psychiatric Association.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Ashjazadeh, N., Sahraeian, A., Sabzgolin, I., & Asadi-Pooya, A. A. (2019). Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in adults with epilepsy. Epilepsy & Behavior, 101(Part A), 106543. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yebeh.2019.106543

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ballmann, C., Kölle, M. A., Bekavac-Günther, I., Wolf, F., Pargent, F., Barzel, A., Philipsen, A., & Gensichen, J. (2022). Evaluation of the German version of the adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder self-report screening scale for DSM-5 as a screening tool for adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in primary care. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 858147. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.858147

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Bastiaens, L., & Galus, J. (2018). Comparison of the adult ADHD self-report scale screener for DSM-IV and DSM-5 in a dually diagnosed correctional population. Psychiatric Quarterly, 89(2), 505–510. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11126-017-9553-4

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Batoćanin, A., & Dinić, B. M. (2020). Preliminary psychometric characteristics of the Serbian adaptation of the adult ADHD self-report scale: ASRS-v1.1 and ASRS-5. Psihološka Istraživanja, 23(2), 97–120.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brevik, E. J., Lundervold, A. J., Haavik, J., & Posserud, M. B. (2021). 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. Brain and Behavior, 11(5), e02067. https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.2067

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Carlucci, S., Ivanova, I., Bissada, H., & Tasca, G. A. (2017). Validity and reliability of the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder self-report scale (ASRS-v1.1) in a clinical sample with eating disorders. Eating Behaviors, 26, 148–154. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eatbeh.2017.03.010

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Caye, A., Spadini, A. V., Karam, R. G., Grevet, E. H., Rovaris, D. L., Bau, C. H., Rohde, L. A., & Kieling, C. (2016). Predictors of persistence of ADHD into adulthood: A systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 25(11), 1151–1159. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-016-0831-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chiasson, J.-P., Stavro, K., Rizkallah, É., Lapierre, L., Dussault, M., Legault, L., & Potvin, S. (2011). Questioning the specificity of ASRS-v1.1 to accurately detect ADHD in substance abusing populations. Journal of Attention Disorders, 16(8), 661–663. https://doi.org/10.1177/1087054711425768

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Coghill, D. (2010). The impact of medications on quality of life in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: A systematic review. CNS Drugs, 24(10), 843–866. https://doi.org/10.2165/11537450-000000000-00000

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Daigre Blanco, C., Ramos-Quiroga, J. A., Valero, S., Bosch, R., Roncero, C., Gonzalvo, B., & Noguiera, M. (2009). Adult ADHD self-report scale (ASRS-v1.1) symptom checklist in patients with substance use disorders. Actas Españolas de Psiquiatría y. Neurología, 37(6), 299–305.

    Google Scholar 

  • Daigre, C., Roncero, C., Rodríguez-Cintas, L., Ortega, L., Lligoña, A., Fuentes, S., Pérez-Pazos, J., Martínez-Luna, N., & Casas, M. (2014). Adult ADHD screening in alcohol-dependent patients using the Wender–Utah rating scale and the adult ADHS self-report scale. Journal of Attention Disorders, 19(4), 328–334. https://doi.org/10.1177/1087054714529819

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dakwar, E., Mahony, A., Pavlicova, M., Glass, A., Brooks, D., Mariani, J. J., Grabowski, J., & Levin, F. R. (2012). The utility of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder screening instruments in individuals seeking treatment for substance use disorders. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 73(11), e1372–e1378. https://doi.org/10.4088/JCP.12m07895

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Das, D., Cherbuin, N., Butterworth, P., Anstey, K. J., & Easteal, S. (2012). A population-based study of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms and associated impairment in middle-aged adults. PLoS ONE, 7(2), e31500. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0031500

  • Dunlop, B. W., Wu, R., & Helms, K. (2018). Performance of the adult ADHD self-report scale-v1.1 in adults with major depressive disorder. Behavioral Sciences, 8(4), 37. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs8040037

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • DuPaul, G. J., Power, T. J., Anastopoulos, A. D., & Reid, R. (1998). ADHD rating scale-IV: School checklist. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1998-06605-000. Accessed 28 July 2022.

  • Evren, C., Umut, G., Bozkurt, M., Teksin-Unal, G., Agachanli, R., & Evren, B. (2016). Psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the adult ADHD self-report scale (ASRS-v1.1) in a sample of inpatients with alcohol use disorder. Dusunen Adam: The Journal of Psychiatry and Neurological Sciences, 29(2), 109–119. https://doi.org/10.5350/dajpn2016290202

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Farcas, S. (2018). Psychometric properties of the Hungarian version of the adult ADHD self-report scale (ASRS v1.1) screener and symptom checklist. Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on New Findings in Humanities and Social Sciences.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fayyad, J., Sampson, N. A., Hwang, I., Adamowski, T., Aguilar-Gaxiola, S., Al-Hamzawi, A., Andrade, L. H. S. G., Borges, G., de Girolamo, G., Florescu, S., Gureje, O., Haro, J. M., Hu, C., Karam, E. G., Lee, S., Navarro-Mateu, F., O’Neill, S., Pennell, B.-E., Piazza, M., et al. (2017). The descriptive epidemiology of DSM-IV adult ADHD in the World Health Organization world mental health surveys. ADHD Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorders, 9, 47–65. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12402-016-0208-3

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fredriksen, M., Dahl, A. A., Martinsen, E. W., Klungsoyr, O., Faraone, S. V., & Peleikis, D. E. (2014). Childhood and persistent ADHD symptoms associated with educational failure and long-term occupational disability in adult ADHD. ADHD Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorders, 6(2), 87–99. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12402-014-0126-1

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fuller-Killgore, M. D., Burlison, J., & Dwyer, W. (2012). Comparison of three ADHD screening instruments in college students of varying cognitive ability. Journal of Attention Disorders, 17(5), 449–454. https://doi.org/10.1177/1087054712438136

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gjervan, B., Torgersen, T., Nordahl, H. M., & Rasmussen, K. (2012). Functional impairment and occupational outcome in adults with ADHD. Journal of Attention Disorders, 16(7), 544–552. https://doi.org/10.1177/1087054711413074

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Green, J. G., DeYoung, G., Wogan, M. E., Wolf, E. J., Lane, K. L., & Adler, L. A. (2019). 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. International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research, 28, e1751. https://doi.org/10.1002/mpr.1751

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hamid, A., Shahzad, T., Faridi, S., & Nadeem, A. (2020). Frequency of behavioural tendencies resembling attention-deficit hyperactivity disorders in undergraduate medical students: A cross sectional study. The Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association, 70(9), 1671–1675. https://doi.org/10.5455/jpma.35012

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hines, J. L., King, T. S., & Curry, W. J. (2012). The adult ADHD self-report scale for screening for adult attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, 25(6), 847–853. https://doi.org/10.3122/jabfm.2012.06.120065

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Holst, Y., & Thorell, L. B. (2020). Functional impairments among adults with ADHD: A comparison with adults with other psychiatric disorders and links to executive deficits. Applied Neuropsychology: Adult, 27(3), 243–255. https://doi.org/10.1080/23279095.2018.1532429

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Katzman, M. A., Bilkey, T. S., Chokka, P. R., Fallu, A., & Klassen, L. J. (2017). Adult ADHD and comorbid disorders: Clinical implications of a dimensional approach. BMC Psychiatry, 17, 302. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-017-1463-3

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Kessler, R. C., Adler, L., Ames, M., Demler, O., Faraone, S., Hiripi, E., Howes, M. J., Jin, R., Secnik, K., Spencer, T., Ustun, T. B., & Walters, E. E. (2005). The World Health Organization adult ADHD self-report scale (ASRS): A short screening scale for use in the general population. Psychological Medicine, 35(2), 245–256. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0033291704002892

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kessler, R. C., Adler, L. A., Gruber, M. J., Sarawate, C. A., Spencer, T., & Van Brunt, D. L. (2007). Validity of the World Health Organization adult ADHD self-report scale (ASRS) screener in a representative sample of health plan members. International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research, 16(2), 52–65. https://doi.org/10.1002/mpr.208

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Kessler, R. C., Berglund, P., Demler, O., Jin, R., Koretz, D., Merikangas, K. R., Rush, A. J., Walters, E. E., & Wang, P. S. (2003). The epidemiology of major depressive disorder: Results from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS-R). JAMA, 289(23), 3095–3105. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.289.23.3095

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kessler, R. C., Haro, J. M., Heeringa, S. G., Pennell, B. E., & Ustün, T. B. (2006). The World Health Organization world Mental Health Survey Initiative. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences, 15(3), 161–166. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1121189x00004395

  • Kiatrungrit, K., Putthisri, S., Hongsanguansri, S., Wisajan, P., & Jullagate, S. (2017). Validity and reliability of adult ADHD self-report scale Thai version (ASRS-v1.1 TH). Shanghai Archives of Psychiatry, 29(4), 218–227. https://doi.org/10.11919/j.issn.1002-0829.217021

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, J. H., Lee, E. H., & Joung, Y. S. (2013). The WHO adult ADHD self-report scale: Reliability and validity of the Korean version. Psychiatry Investigation, 10(1), 41–46. https://doi.org/10.4306/pi.2013.10.1.41

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Lovett, B. J., Ferrier, D. E., Wang, T., & Jordan, A. H. (2021). Adult ADHD self-report scale screener ratings in college students: Concurrent validity and test–retest reliability. Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment, 39(8), 1015–1019. https://doi.org/10.1177/07342829211034367

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Machado, A., Rafaela, D., Silva, T., Veigas, T., & Cerejeira, J. (2017). ADHD among offenders: Prevalence and relationship with psychopathic traits. Journal of Attention Disorders, 24(14), 2021–2029. https://doi.org/10.1177/1087054717744880

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Madsen, K. B., Ravn, M. H., Arnfred, J., Olsen, J., Rask, C. U., & Obel, C. (2018). Characteristics of undiagnosed children with parent-reported ADHD behaviour. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 27(2), 149–158. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-017-1029-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mak, A. D. P., Lee, S., Sampson, N. A., Albor, Y., Alonso, J., Auerbach, R. P., Baumeister, H., Benjet, C., Bruffaerts, R., Cuijpers, P., Ebert, D. D., Gutierrez-Garcia, R. A., Hasking, P., Lapsley, C., Lochner, C., & Kessler, R. C. (2022). ADHD comorbidity structure and impairment: Results of the WHO World Mental Health Surveys international college student project (WMH-ICS). Journal of Attention Disorders, 26(8), 1078–1096. https://doi.org/10.1177/10870547211057275

  • Mhalla, A., Guedria, A., Brahem, T., Amamou, B., Sboui, W., Gaddour, N., & Gaha, L. (2018). ADHD in Tunisian adolescents: Prevalence and associated factors. Journal of Attention Disorders, 22(2), 154–162. https://doi.org/10.1177/1087054717702217

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Michelson, D., Adler, L., Spencer, T., Reimherr, F. W., West, S. A., Allen, A. J., Kelsey, D., Wernicke, J., Dietrich, A., & Milton, D. (2003). Atomoxetine in adults with ADHD: Two randomized, placebo-controlled studies. Biological Psychiatry, 53(2), 112–120. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0006-3223(02)01671-2

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Notzon, D. P., Pavlicova, M., Glass, A., Mariani, J. J., Mahony, A. L., Brooks, D. J., & Levin, F. R. (2020). ADHD is highly prevalent in patients seeking treatment for cannabis use disorders. Journal of Attention Disorders, 24(11), 1487–1492. https://doi.org/10.1177/1087054716640109

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Oerbeck, B., Overgaard, K., Pripp, A. H., Aase, H., Reichborn-Kjennerud, T., & Zeiner, P. (2015). Adult ADHD symptoms and satisfaction with life: Does age and sex matter? Journal of Attention Disorders, 23(1), 3–11. https://doi.org/10.1177/1087054715612257

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Pettersson, R., Söderström, S., & Nilsson, K. W. (2018). Diagnosing ADHD in adults: An examination of the discriminative validity of neuropsychological tests and diagnostic assessment instruments. Journal of Attention Disorders, 22(11), 1019–1031. https://doi.org/10.1177/1087054715618788

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pitts, M., Mangle, L., & Asherson, P. (2015). Impairments, diagnosis and treatments associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in UK adults: Results from the lifetime impairment survey. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 29(1), 56–63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apnu.2014.10.001

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Polanczyk, G. V., Laranjeira, R., Zaleski, M., Pinsky, I., Caetano, R., & Rohde, L. A. (2010). ADHD in a representative sample of the Brazilian population: Estimated prevalence and comparative adequacy of criteria between adolescents and adults according to the item response theory. International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research, 19(3), 177–184. https://doi.org/10.1002/mpr.319

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Polanczyk, G. V., Willcutt, E. G., Salum, G. A., Kieling, C., & Rohde, L. A. (2014). ADHD prevalence estimates across three decades: An updated systematic review and meta-regression analysis. International Journal of Epidemiology, 43(2), 434–442. https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyt261

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Reuter, M., Kirsch, P., & Hennig, J. (2006). Inferring candidate genes for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) assessed by the World Health Organization adult ADHD self-report scale (ASRS). The Journal of Neural Transmission, 113(7), 929–938. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-005-0366-5

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Reyes, M. M., Schneekloth, T. D., Hitschfeld, M. J., Geske, J. R., Atkinson, D. L., & Karpyak, V. M. (2016). The clinical utility of ASRS-v1.1 for identifying ADHD in alcoholics using prism as the reference standard. Journal of Attention Disorders, 23(10), 1119–1125. https://doi.org/10.1177/1087054716646450

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Roncero, C., Ortega, L., Pérez-Pazos, J., Lligoña, A., Abad, A. C., Gual, A., Sorribes, M., Grau-López, L., Casa, M., & Daigre, C. (2019). Psychiatric comorbidity in treatment-seeking alcohol dependence patients with and without ADHD. Journal of Attention Disorders, 23(12), 1497–1504. https://doi.org/10.1177/1087054715598841

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Scandar, M. G. (2021). Validity and reliability of the ASRS and WURS-25 scales for the diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in an Argentinian population. Revista de Neurologia, 72(3), 77–84. https://doi.org/10.33588/rn.7203.2019381

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sheehan, D. V., Lecrubier, Y., Sheehan, K. H., Amorim, P., Janavs, J., Weiller, E., Hergueta, T., Baker, R., & Dunbar, G. C. (1998). The Mini-international neuropsychiatric interview (M.I.N.I.): The development and validation of a structured diagnostic psychiatric interview for DSM-IV and ICD-10. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 59(Suppl 20), 22–33.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sibley, M. H., Mitchell, J. T., & Becker, S. P. (2016). Method of adult diagnosis influences estimated persistence of childhood ADHD: A systematic review of longitudinal studies. The Lancet Psychiatry, 3(12), 1157–1165. https://doi.org/10.1016/s2215-0366(16)30190-0

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sjölander, L., Vadlin, S., Olofsdotter, S., & Sonnby, K. (2016). Validation of the parent version of the World Health Organization adult ADHD self-report scale for adolescents. Nordic Journal of Psychiatry, 70(4), 255–261. https://doi.org/10.3109/08039488.2015.1085092

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Söderström, S., Pettersson, R., & Nilsson, K. W. (2014). Quantitative and subjective behavioural aspects in the assessment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults. Nordic Journal of Psychiatry, 68(1), 30–37. https://doi.org/10.3109/08039488.2012.762940

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Soendergaard, H. M., Thomsen, P. H., Pedersen, P., Pedersen, E., Poulsen, A. E., Nielsen, J. M., Winther, L., Henriksen, A., Rungoe, B., & Soegaard, H. J. (2016). Treatment dropout and missed appointments among adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: Associations with patient- and disorder-related factors. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 77(2), 232–239. https://doi.org/10.4088/JCP.14m09270

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Somma, A., Adler, L. A., Gialdi, G., Arteconi, M., Cotilli, E., & Fossati, A. (2021). The validity of the World Health Organization adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder self-report screening scale for the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, fifth edition in adolescence. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, 31(9), 631–638. https://doi.org/10.1089/cap.2020.0158

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Somma, A., Borroni, S., & Fossati, A. (2019). Construct validity and diagnostic accuracy of the Italian translation of the 18-item World Health Organization adult ADHD self-report scale (ASRS-18) Italian translation in a sample of community-dwelling adolescents. Psychiatry Research, 273, 753–758. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2019.02.016

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Song, P., Zha, M., Yang, Q., Zhang, Y., Li, X., & Rudan, I. (2021). The prevalence of adult attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: A global systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Global Health, 11, 04009. https://doi.org/10.7189/jogh.11.04009

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Sonnby, K., Skordas, K., Olofsdotter, S., Vadlin, S., Nilsson, K. W., & Ramklint, M. (2015). Validation of the World Health Organization adult ADHD self-report scale for adolescents. Nordic Journal of Psychiatry, 69(3), 216–223. https://doi.org/10.3109/08039488.2014.968203

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Spencer, T., Biederman, J., Wilens, T., Faraone, S., Prince, J., Gerard, K., Doyle, R., Parekh, A., Kagan, J., & Bearman, S. K. (2001). Efficacy of a mixed amphetamine salts compound in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Archives of General Psychiatry, 58(8), 775–782. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.58.8.775

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stanton, K., Forbes, M. K., & Zimmerman, M. (2018). Distinct dimensions defining the adult ADHD self-report scale: Implications for assessing inattentive and hyperactive/impulsive symptoms. Psychological Assessment, 30(12), 1549–1559. https://doi.org/10.1037/pas0000604

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Takeda, T., Tsuji, Y., & Kurita, H. (2017). Psychometric properties of the Japanese version of the adult attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) self-report scale (ASRS-J) and its short scale in accordance with DSM-5 diagnostic criteria. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 63, 59–66. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2017.02.011

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Thomas, R., Sanders, S., Doust, J., Beller, E., & Glasziou, P. (2015). Prevalence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Pediatrics, 135(4), e994-e 1001. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2014-3482

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ustun, B., Adler, L. A., Rudin, C., Faraone, S. V., Spencer, T. J., Berglund, P., Gruber, M. J., & Kessler, R. C. (2017). The World Health Organization adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder self-report screening scale for DSM-5. JAMA Psychiatry, 74(5), 520–527. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2017.0298

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Ustun, B., & Rudin, C. (2016). Supersparse linear integer models for optimized medical scoring systems. Machine Learning, 102(3), 349–391. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10994-015-5528-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ustun, B., & Rudin, C. (2019). Learning optimized risk scores. Journal of Machine Learning Research, 20(150), 1–75.

    Google Scholar 

  • Valsecchi, P., Nibbio, G., Rosa, J., Tamussi, E., Turrina, C., Sacchetti, E., & Vita, A. (2021). Adult ADHD: Prevalence and clinical correlates in a sample of Italian psychiatric outpatients. Journal of Attention Disorders, 25(4), 530–539. https://doi.org/10.1177/1087054718819824

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • van de Glind, G., van den Brink, W., Koeter, M. W., Carpentier, P. J., van Emmerik-van Oortmerssen, K., Kaye, S., Skutle, A., Bu, E.-T. H., Franck, J., Konstenius, M., Moggi, F., Dom, G., Verspreet, S., Demetrovics, Z., Kapitány-Fövényju, M., Fatséas, M., Auriacombe, M., Schillinger, A., Seitz, A., & Levin, F. R. (2013). Validity of the adult ADHD self-report scale (ASRS) as a screener for adult ADHD in treatment seeking substance use disorder patients. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 132(3), 587–596. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2013.04.010

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Weibel, S., Nicastro, R., Prada, P., Cole, P., Rüfenacht, E., Pham, E., Dayer, A., & Perroud, N. (2018). Screening for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in borderline personality disorder. Journal of Affective Disorders, 226, 85–91. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2017.09.027

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yeh, C. B., Gau, S. S., Kessler, R. C., & Wu, Y. Y. (2008). Psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the adult ADHD self-report scale. International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research, 17(1), 45–54. https://doi.org/10.1002/mpr.241

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Zohar, A. H., & Konfortes, H. (2010). Diagnosing ADHD in Israeli adults: The psychometric properties of the adult ADHD self-report scale (ASRS) in Hebrew. Israel Journal of Psychiatry and Related Sciences, 47(4), 308–315.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, USA

    Hannah N. Ziobrowski

  2. Departments of Psychiatry and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA

    Lenard A. Adler

  3. Department of Health Policy and Management, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, NY, USA

    Nur Hani Zainal, Nancy A. Sampson, Victor Puac-Polanco & Ronald C. Kessler

  4. Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA

    Deepti Anbarasan

Authors
  1. Hannah N. Ziobrowski
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Lenard A. Adler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Nur Hani Zainal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Deepti Anbarasan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Nancy A. Sampson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Victor Puac-Polanco
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Ronald C. Kessler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ronald C. Kessler .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. North Shore Campus, Auckland Univ of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand

    Christian U. Krägeloh

  2. Dept of Psychological Medicine, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand

    Mohsen Alyami

  3. School of Psychology, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand

    Oleg N. Medvedev

Appendix

Appendix

Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS-v1.1) Symptom Checklist

figure a

All available translations of the ASRS v1.1 can be found at: https://www.hcp.med.harvard.edu/ncs/asrs.php

Scoring

If 4 or more marks appear in the darkly shaded boxes within Part A (Questions 1 through 6), then the patient has symptoms highly consistent with ADHD in adults and further investigation is warranted.

The frequency scores on Part B (Questions 7 through 18) provide additional cues and can serve as further probes into the patient’s symptoms. Pay particular attention to marks appearing in the dark shaded boxes. The frequency-based response is more sensitive with certain questions. No total score or diagnostic likelihood is utilized for the 12 questions in Part B. It has been found that the six questions in Part A are the most predictive of the disorder and are best for use as a screening instrument.

Adult ADHD Self-Report Screening Scale for DSM-5 (ASRS-5)

Date

 

Check the box that best describes how you have felt and conducted yourself over the past 6 months. Please give the completed questionnaire to your healthcare professional during your next appointment to discuss the results.

Never

Rarely

Sometimes

Often

Very Often

1. How often do you have difficulty concentrating on what people are saying to you even when they are speaking to you directly?

     

2. How often do you leave your seat in meetings or other situations in which you are expected to remain seated?

     

3. How often do you have difficulty unwinding and relaxing when you have time to yourself?

     

4. When you’re in a conversation, how often do you find yourself finishing the sentences of the people you are talking to before they can finish them themselves?

     

5. How often do you put things off until the last minute?

     

6. How often do you depend on others to keep your life in order and attend to details?

     
  1. All available translations of the ASRS-5 can be found at: https://www.hcp.med.harvard.edu/ncs/asrs.php

Scoring

There are two options for scoring the ASRS-5. The first is to employ simple dimensional scoring (i.e., score each item in the range 0–4 and give everyone a summary score of 0–24) and use the resulting 0–24 continuous score as a predictor for potential ADHD. One may do this without requesting permission, similar to most other screening scales. If desired, this score can be combined with the ASRS v1.1 Symptom Checklist. Alternatively, for clinical use, one may use the scale online through the website adhdinadults.com, thus preventing the need for manual scoring. Second, researchers can contact Dr. Lenard Adler at NYU (Lenard.Adler@nyumc.org) to get permission to use the proprietary scoring rules for the DSM-5 version. If the intended use is for academic purposes and not part of an industry-sponsored trial, there will be no charge for using the scale. Still, the institution must sign an interinstitutional user agreement before receiving the scoring instructions. Requests for commercial uses of the screener will require a license, which can also be arranged by contacting Dr. Adler.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2023 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this entry

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this entry

Ziobrowski, H.N. et al. (2023). Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Self-Report Scale (ASRS). In: Krägeloh, C.U., Alyami, M., Medvedev, O.N. (eds) International Handbook of Behavioral Health Assessment. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-89738-3_50-1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-89738-3_50-1

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-89738-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-89738-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Behavioral Science and PsychologyReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation