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The Definition of ADHD Index

The ADHD Index, or CTRS-R (Conners' Rating Scales), is the most commonly used standardized ADHD evaluation test. Dr. Keith Conners, Ph.D., developed the index in 1969. A revision came in 1997. The ADHD Index measures behaviors and habits of a potential ADHD sufferer through the administration of several questions designed to assess the impact of ADHD on an individual's life. This is a commonly used assessment tool for clinicians even today.

  1. The Test

    • The administrator scores ten behavioral traits in the following order; restless or overactive, excitable or impulsive, fails to finish things he/she starts, temper outbursts, fidgeting, disturbs other children, demands must be met immediately-easily frustrated, cries often and easily, mood changes quickly and drastically. The questions are then rated by the administrator with the use of a four score system; 0=not true at all (never, seldom), 1=just a little true (occasionally), 2=pretty much true (often), and 3=very much true (very often). The test refers to the results as t-scores. The test itself has a separate side for male and female assessment, and has different scoring according to age groups 3 to 5, 6 to 8, 9 to 11, 12 to 14 and 15 to 17.

    Purpose

    • Early versions of the Index were responsible for identifying and legitimizing ADHD in the psychiatric community, but they allowed for too much variability in diagnosis and treatment. New versions have dealt with the lack of uniformity in the research and application, and are more geographically and culturally diverse. The Conners' scale also correctly identifies the differences between Inattentive and Hyperactive forms of ADHD. Its weakness is that it relies on the ADHD patient's impact on their surroundings, not the internal symptoms.

    Changes

    • As of 2010, the most recent version of the Index is in combination with DSM-IV criteria, published by the American Psychiatric Association. It is not limited to the diagnosis of ADHD, and provides a broader base to ensure that clinicians avoid misdiagnosis patients.

    Difficulties

    • Tests such as these can be problematic due to the reliance that the administrator is familiar enough with the patient's behavior to accurately inform the parameters of the test. There has been a shift of awareness concerning the thoughts of the patient over recent years, and an understanding of the internalized trauma that ADHD sufferers endure. The tendency for young children to elaborate, and present themselves in a positive light may complicate the assessment as well, but a combination of both approaches seem to be the direction towards which the psychological community is advancing.

    Expert Insight

    • In 2010, the cost for the full test is over $500. The design of the test is for clinicians hoping to diagnose rather than treat. The test questions do not address the several types of ADHD that researchers such as Daniel Amen, Ph.D., have identified. The diagnosis of ADHD can be troubling and elusive, and it is always a good idea to seek a professional's help with a suspected case of ADHD/ADD.

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