Reliability and Validity of the Chen ADHD Scale (C-ADHDS)

Area of Science:

• Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• Psychometric Instrument Development
• Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Background:

• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder affecting children and adolescents.
• Accurate and reliable screening tools are essential for early identification and intervention.
• Existing ADHD assessment tools may require validation in diverse cultural contexts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate the Chen ADHD Scale for screening ADHD symptoms.
• To assess the reliability and validity of the Chen ADHD Scale in a Taiwanese population.
• To establish the diagnostic accuracy of the Chen ADHD Scale for predicting ADHD.

Main Methods:

• A study involving 114 children and adolescents diagnosed with ADHD and 39 controls (aged 5-18).
• Parents completed the Chen ADHD Scale, Chinese SNAP-IV, and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ).
• Psychometric properties including reliability, validity, and diagnostic accuracy were evaluated using statistical analyses.

Main Results:

• The Chen ADHD Scale demonstrated excellent test-retest reliability (ICC=0.916) and internal consistency (α=0.966-0.978).
• The scale showed a robust two-factor structure (inattention, hyperactivity-impulsivity) and good convergent/divergent validity.
• Receiver operating characteristic analysis indicated high diagnostic accuracy (AUC=0.944), with an optimal cutoff of 37 for predicting ADHD (sensitivity=0.87, specificity=0.97).

Conclusions:

• The Chen ADHD Scale is a psychometrically sound instrument for ADHD screening.
• It is reliable and valid for use in clinical settings in Taiwan.
• The scale's high accuracy supports its utility in identifying ADHD symptoms in youth.