Clinical Utility and Cut-Off Scores of the Korean Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Rating Scale

Abstract

This study was conducted to re-validate the clinical efficacy of the Korean Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Rating Scale (K-AARS), which is a self-report scale for ADHD in adults, and to determine the clinical utility and cutoff scores of K-AARS. Methods: The participants were 135 drug naïve adults with ADHD and 144 healthy controls. To diagnose ADHD based on the diagnostic criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition, two board-certified pediatric psychiatrists interviewed the participants and completed the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview. K-AARS was applied to all participants. K-AARS comprises six clinical subscales, one impairment subscale, and one driving behavior subscale. The receiver operating characteristic analysis was conducted to calculate the cutoff scores of K-AARS. Results: All subscale scores, including six clinical subscale, impairment subscale, and driving behavior subscale scores, were found to be significant in distinguishing adults with ADHD from healthy controls. The sensitivity and specificity of the six clinical subscales were 63.0-77.0% and 66.7-79.9%, respectively. The combined total score of the six clinical subscales, had a sensitivity of 80.0% and specificity of 79.9%. Conclusion: The discriminative power of K-AARS for the diagnosis of ADHD in adults was excellent, and K-AARS and the empirical diagnosis of adults can be useful in diagnosing ADHD in adulthood.

The Positive Aspects of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder among Famous People

“…2 Furthermore, there has been recent controversy surrounding the diagnosis of ADHD in children and adults. 3 The primary symptoms of ADHD differ according to ADHD subtypes, and its progress varies, which have resulted in disagreements over the diagnosis of ADHD. 4 Although ADHD is a chronic disease that requires follow-up when pediatric patients' transition into adulthood, there is a high rate of suspension in the management of this disorder during this transition.…”

Development of the Korean Practice Parameter for Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

“…The K-AARS is a self-report rating scale consisting of 73 items and eight sub-factors including inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity, antisocial personality disorder/conduct disorder/oppositional defiant disorder, impairment, driving, emotional dysregulation, and disorganization. The K-AARS is special in that it includes antisocial personality disorder/conduct disorder/oppositional defiant disorder as an independent factor and also has a set of cut-off score [155]. The Barkley Deficits in Executive Functioning Scale (BDEFS) was specifically designed for evaluating the deficits in executive functioning (time management, organization and problem solving, selfrestraint, self-motivation, and self-regulation) in adults with ADHD [156] and was later standardized in Korean [157].…”

“…Bipolar disorders co-occur in approximately 20% of adult ADHD Table 1. Key evaluation instruments currently available in Korea Self-report scale WHO Adult ADHD Self-Report Rating Scale (ASRS) [2,148] Korean Adult ADHD Rating Scale (K-AARS) [155] Executive functioning scale Barkley Deficits In Executive Functioning Scale (BDEFS) [157] Diagnostic interview The Diagnostic Interview for ADHD in Adults (DIVA-5) [5] Attentional test Conners' Continuous Performance Test (CPT)…”

<p>Validity of the Korean Version of DIVA-5: A Semi-Structured Diagnostic Interview for Adult ADHD</p>

“…Some of the data relating to participants in this study were published in a previous paper. 18 The study has been performed in accordance with the ethical standards laid down in the Helsinki II Declaration about informed consent, voluntariness and anonymity.…”