Joint Consideration of Validity Indicators Embedded in Conners ’ Adult ADHD Rating Scales (CAARS)

AbstractA decade of research has both illustrated the need for accurate clinical assessment of adult ADHD and brought forward a series of validity indicators assisting this diagnostic process. Several of these indicators have been embedded into Conners ’ Adult ADHD Rating Scales (CAARS). As their different theoretical underpinnings offer the opportunity of possible synergy effects, the present study sought to examine whether the item- or index-wise combination of multiple validity indicators benefits classification accuracy. A sample of controls (n = 856) and adults with ADHD (n = 72) answered the CAARS, including the ADHD Credibility Index (ACI) honestly, while a group of instructed simulators (n = 135) completed the instrument as though they had ADHD. First, original CAARS items, which are part of the CAARS Infrequency Index (CII), and items drawn from the ACI were combined into a new CII-ACI-Compound Index. Secondly, existing validity indicators, including suspectT-score elevations and the CII, were considered in combination. Both approaches were evaluated in terms of sensitivity and specificity. The combination of four CII and five ACI items into the CII-ACI-Compound Index yielded a sensitivity between 41 and 51% and an estimated specificity above 87%. SuspectT-score elevations on all three DSM scales emerged as another potentially useful validity indicator with a sensitivity of 45 to 46% and a specificity  >  90%. Deeming examinees non-credible whene...

Source: Psychological Injury and Law - February 24, 2022 Category: Medical Law Source Type: research