Functioning Assessment Short Test (FAST): validity and reliability in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity...

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Clinical Psychology
• Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Background:

• Functional deficits are key characteristics of adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
• Existing evaluation instruments lack robust psychometric validation for assessing adult ADHD functioning.
• Reliability and validity studies are crucial for accurate assessment of ADHD-related functional impairments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Functioning Assessment Short Test (FAST).
• To establish the reliability and validity of FAST as a measure of functional impairment in adults with ADHD.
• To provide a validated instrument for assessing the impact of ADHD on daily life.

Main Methods:

• A case-control study involving 152 adult subjects (88 with ADHD, 64 healthy controls).
• Analysis of psychometric properties including feasibility, internal consistency, concurrent validity, and discriminant validity.
• Factor analysis was employed to assess the underlying structure of the FAST.

Main Results:

• The FAST demonstrated high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.83).
• Excellent discriminant capacity was observed (AUC ROC = 0.98, CI [0.96-0.99]).
• Adults with ADHD showed significant impairments across all life domains, particularly in cognitive functioning, autonomy, occupational functioning, and interpersonal relationships.

Conclusions:

• The Functioning Assessment Short Test (FAST) is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing functional impairment in adults with ADHD.
• The FAST is easily administered and provides valuable insights into the functional impact of ADHD.
• The study confirms significant functional impairments in adults diagnosed with ADHD across various life domains.