INCLEN diagnostic tool for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (INDT-ADHD): development and validation

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Psychology
• Neurodevelopmental Disorders
• Psychometric Evaluation

Background:

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder requiring accurate diagnostic tools.
• Existing diagnostic measures may have limitations in specific populations, necessitating culturally relevant instruments.
• The development of a validated diagnostic tool is crucial for early and accurate identification of ADHD in children.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate the INCLEN Diagnostic Tool for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (INDT-ADHD).
• To assess the psychometric properties, including diagnostic accuracy, validity, and internal consistency, of the INDT-ADHD.
• To establish the suitability of the INDT-ADHD for diagnosing ADHD in Indian children.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional diagnostic test evaluation design was employed.
• 156 children aged 65-117 months were recruited from tertiary care pediatric centers.
• The INDT-ADHD and Connors 3 Parent Rating Scale (C3PS) were administered post-randomization, followed by expert evaluation using DSM-IV-TR criteria.

Main Results:

• The INDT-ADHD, comprising 18 items, demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy: sensitivity 87.7%, specificity 97.2% for differentiating ADHD from normal children.
• Internal consistency was high (0.91), and the tool exhibited a moderate convergent validity with the C3PS (r=0.73, P=0.001).
• The tool showed a 4-factor structure, explaining 60.4% of the variance, and performed well in differentiating ADHD from other neurodevelopmental disorders.

Conclusions:

• The INDT-ADHD is a psychometrically sound and validated tool suitable for diagnosing ADHD in Indian children aged 6 to 9 years.
• The tool's high accuracy and reliability support its use in clinical settings for improved ADHD diagnosis.
• INDT-ADHD offers a valuable resource for identifying ADHD, potentially leading to timely interventions and better outcomes.