Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 8, 2026

The Adventures of Fundi Intervention Based on the Cognitive and Emotional Processing in Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Patients
05:48

The Adventures of Fundi Intervention Based on the Cognitive and Emotional Processing in Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Patients

Published on: June 12, 2020

Development of a Very Brief Measure of ADHD: The CHAOS Scale

Jess D Levy1, William G Kronenberger1, David W Dunn1

  • 11 Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.

Journal of Attention Disorders
|September 3, 2013
PubMed

Insights

The CHAOS scale is a brief, reliable tool for assessing Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptoms in clinical settings. It effectively measures attention problems, hyperactivity-impulsivity, oppositional behavior, and conduct problems.

Area of Science:

  • Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
  • Behavioral Psychology
  • Clinical Psychology

Background:

  • ADHD rating scales can be lengthy and difficult to use in busy clinical environments.
  • There is a need for brief, user-friendly behavioral checklists for ADHD assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a concise and practical behavior checklist for evaluating Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptoms.
  • To create a tool that addresses limitations of existing ADHD rating scales in clinical practice.

Main Methods:

  • The Conduct-Hyperactive-Attention Problem-Oppositional Symptom (CHAOS) scale items were derived from DSM-IV criteria by expert clinicians.
  • Principal Components Analysis (PCA) was used to create subscales from data of 205 clinically referred children.
  • Reliability and validity were assessed in a separate sample of 139 children.

Main Results:

  • PCA identified four subscales: Attention Problems, Hyperactivity-Impulsivity, Oppositional Behavior, and Conduct Problems.
  • The CHAOS scale demonstrated moderate to high test-retest and interrater reliability.
  • Subscale scores showed significant correlations with a DSM-referenced behavior checklist and executive functioning tests.

Conclusions:

  • The CHAOS scale is a brief, psychometrically sound instrument.
  • It is suitable for the evaluation and monitoring of ADHD symptoms in clinical settings.
Abstract

Keywords:
ADD/ADHDADHD informant ratingsConduct DisorderOppositional Defiant Disorderassessment

More Related Videos

Using Brain Activation (nir-HEG/Q-EEG) and Execution Measures (CPTs) in a ADHD Assessment Protocol13:09

Using Brain Activation (nir-HEG/Q-EEG) and Execution Measures (CPTs) in a ADHD Assessment Protocol

Published on: April 1, 2018

Event Related Potentials (ERPs) and other EEG Based Methods for Extracting Biomarkers of Brain Dysfunction: Examples from Pediatric Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)10:02

Event Related Potentials (ERPs) and other EEG Based Methods for Extracting Biomarkers of Brain Dysfunction: Examples from Pediatric Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Published on: March 12, 2020

Related Concept Videos

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder01:30

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. It affects approximately 5-8% of children globally, with around 60-70% of cases persisting into adulthood. ADHD has significant implications for educational attainment, social interactions, and occupational success.
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings.
Conduct Disorder01:28

Conduct Disorder

Conduct disorder is a complex mental health diagnosis characterized by a repetitive and persistent pattern of behavior that violates societal norms, the rights of others, or age-appropriate rules. The diagnostic criteria for conduct disorder require the presence of at least three problematic behaviors within the past 12 months, with at least one occurring in the past six months. These behaviors are grouped into four categories: aggression toward people and animals; destruction of property;...
Self-Report Tests of Personality01:22

Self-Report Tests of Personality

Self-report inventories are objective personality assessments that use multiple-choice items or numbered scales, typically ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). They are often called Likert scales after Rensis Likert. These inventories are widely used due to their ease of administration and cost-effectiveness. One of the most prominent examples is the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), initially developed in the 1940s to assess abnormal personality traits.
Wechsler's Contribution to Measures of Intelligence01:23

Wechsler's Contribution to Measures of Intelligence

David Wechsler, a psychologist who worked with World War I veterans, developed a significant IQ test in 1939 called the Wechsler-Bellevue Intelligence Scale. This test was innovative because it combined several subtests that measured both verbal and nonverbal skills, reflecting Wechsler's belief that intelligence is a global capacity involving purposeful action, rational thinking, and effective interaction with the environment. This test later evolved into the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale...
Binet's Contribution to Measures of Intelligence01:23

Binet's Contribution to Measures of Intelligence

Alfred Binet, along with his student Théophile Simon, was tasked by the French Ministry of Education in 1904 to create a method for identifying students who struggled to learn through conventional classroom instruction. This initiative aimed to address overcrowding by placing such students in specialized schools. Binet and Simon developed an intelligence test comprising 30 tasks, ranging from simple commands, like touching one's nose or ear, to more complex tasks, such as drawing designs from...
Oppositional Defiant Disorder01:30

Oppositional Defiant Disorder

A persistent pattern of angry or irritable mood, defiant behavior, or vindictiveness characterizes Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD). Symptoms must occur over at least six months, involve interactions with individuals beyond siblings, and meet specific diagnostic criteria to be clinically significant. The disorder affects emotional regulation, social interactions, and behavior, often manifesting early in life and influencing long-term development and functioning.
Diagnostic Criteria and...