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German validation of the Conners Adult ADHD Rating Scales (CAARS) II: Reliability, validity, diagnostic sensitivity and specificity

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 April 2020

H. Christiansen ,
B. Kis ,
O. Hirsch ,
S. Matthies ,
J. Hebebrand ,
J. Uekermann ,
M. Abdel-Hamid ,
M. Kraemer ,
J. Wiltfang  and
E. Graf
...Show all authors
H. Christiansen*
Affiliation:
Philipps-University Marburg, Department of Clinical Psychology, Gutenbergstr. 18, 35037Marburg, Germany
B. Kis
Affiliation:
University of Duisburg-Essen, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Essen, Germany
O. Hirsch
Affiliation:
Philipps-University Marburg, Department of General Practice/Family Medicine, Marburg, Germany
S. Matthies
Affiliation:
University of Medical Center Freiburg, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Freiburg, Germany
J. Hebebrand
Affiliation:
University of Duisburg-Essen, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Essen, Germany
J. Uekermann
Affiliation:
University of Duisburg-Essen, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Essen, Germany
M. Abdel-Hamid
Affiliation:
University of Duisburg-Essen, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Essen, Germany
M. Kraemer
Affiliation:
Alfried-Krupp Hospital, Department of Neurology and clinical Neurophysiology, Essen, Germany
J. Wiltfang
Affiliation:
University of Duisburg-Essen, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Essen, Germany
E. Graf
Affiliation:
University Medical Center Freiburg, Clinical Trials Unit, Freiburg, Germany
M. Colla
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Charite – University Medicine Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany
E. Sobanski
Affiliation:
Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany
B. Alm
Affiliation:
Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany
M. Rösler
Affiliation:
Saarland University, Institute for Forensic Psychology and Psychiatry, Homburg, Germany
C. Jacob
Affiliation:
University of Wuerzburg, University Hospital, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Wuerzburg, Germany
T. Jans
Affiliation:
University of Wuerzburg, University Hospital, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Wuerzburg, Germany
M. Huss
Affiliation:
University of Mainz, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Mainz, Germany
B.G. Schimmelmann
Affiliation:
University Hospital of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Bern, Switzerland
A. Philipsen
Affiliation:
University of Medical Center Freiburg, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Freiburg, Germany
*
*Corresponding author. Tel.: +49 0 6421 282 3706; fax: +49 0 6421 282 4281. E-mail address: christih@staff.uni-marburg.de (H. Christiansen).
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Abstract

Background

The German version of the Conners Adult ADHD Rating Scales (CAARS) has proven to show very high model fit in confirmative factor analyses with the established factors inattention/memory problems, hyperactivity/restlessness, impulsivity/emotional lability, and problems with self-concept in both large healthy control and ADHD patient samples. This study now presents data on the psychometric properties of the German CAARS-self-report (CAARS-S) and observer-report (CAARS-O) questionnaires.

Methods

CAARS-S/O and questions on sociodemographic variables were filled out by 466 patients with ADHD, 847 healthy control subjects that already participated in two prior studies, and a total of 896 observer data sets were available. Cronbach's-alpha was calculated to obtain internal reliability coefficients. Pearson correlations were performed to assess test-retest reliability, and concurrent, criterion, and discriminant validity. Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC-analyses) were used to establish sensitivity and specificity for all subscales.

Results

Coefficient alphas ranged from .74 to .95, and test-retest reliability from .85 to .92 for the CAARS-S, and from .65 to .85 for the CAARS-O. All CAARS subscales, except problems with self-concept correlated significantly with the Barrett Impulsiveness Scale (BIS), but not with the Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS). Criterion validity was established with ADHD subtype and diagnosis based on DSM-IV criteria. Sensitivity and specificity were high for all four subscales.

Conclusion

The reported results confirm our previous study and show that the German CAARS-S/O do indeed represent a reliable and cross-culturally valid measure of current ADHD symptoms in adults.

Keywords

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorderAdult ADHDAdult ADHD assessmentDiagnostic issuesConners Adult ADHD Rating Scales (CAARS)ADHD, Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorderADHD-DC, German ADHD Observer-Rating ScaleADHD-SR, German ADHD Self-Rating ScaleASRS, Adult Self-Report ScaleCAARS, Conners Adult ADHD Rating ScalesCP/TRS, Conners Parent/Teacher Rating ScaleDSM-IV, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association, 4th versionICD-10, International Classification of Diseases, 10th versionWHO, World Health OrganizationWURS/WURS-K, Wender Utah Rating Scale/German short version
Type
Original articles
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 27 , Issue 5 , July 2012 , pp. 321 - 328
Copyright
Copyright © Elsevier Masson SAS 2012

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Footnotes

1

Contributed equally to this paper.

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