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Rating scales are used for assessing whether a patient meets the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) criteria for a diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD). They allow the clinician to quantify behaviors that can’t be readily observed in the clinic -- for example, how easily distracted a patient may be. The clinician wants to determine how a person’s symptoms compare with those in the rest of the population. There are scales for gauging ADD/ADHD symptoms, executive function, and so on.
How do ADD/ADHD rating scales work?
Most adult rating scales are self-report scale, filled out by the patient; others are administered by a clinician. The patient evaluates behaviors (“makes careless mistakes” or “talks excessively”) on a frequency basis: “never,” “rarely,” “sometimes,” “often,” “very often.”
Next: Do rating scales work for ADD/ADHD children?
How long do ADD/ADHD rating scales take to fill out?
Why are ADD/ADHD rating scales valuable?
Are ADD/ADHD rating scales tailored to the patient?
Should a clinician always use ADD/ADHD rating scales?
This article comes from the Fall 2010 issue of ADDitude.
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