Adult ADHD Screening in Alcohol-Dependent Patients Using the Wender–Utah Rating Scale and the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to analyze the psychometric properties of two screening instruments, Wender-Utah Rating Scale (WURS) that evaluates childhood ADHD and Adult ADHD Self-Report Scales (ASRS) that assesses symptoms in adulthood, in alcohol-dependent patients. METHOD: A total of 355 outpatients were included. Conners' adult ADHD diagnostic interview results were used as a gold standard in childhood and adulthood ADHD. RESULTS: The WURS with a 41 cutoff had a sensitivity of 79.6% and a specificity of 60.3%. The ASRS with a 14 cutoff had a sensitivity of 86.7% and specificity of 66.1%. Analyzing both rating scales in combination, it was observed that patients with positive ASRS and WURS presented a sensitivity of 92.3%. Patients with positive ASRS, but negative WURS, presented a specificity of 73.6%. CONCLUSION: WURS and ASRS are useful tools in the diagnosis of adult ADHD in alcohol-dependent patients; with the use of both instruments, the psychometric properties are substantially improved.