ADHD and Anxiety Symptoms: Does Construct or Assessment Type Matter More?

Abstract

Objective: This study examined the relationships between self-reported ADHD symptoms, self-reported anxiety, and continuous performance test (CPT) performance. Method: 128 postsecondary students referred for clinical evaluation for possible ADHD and related conditions completed the Conners Adult ADHD Rating Scale, the Behavior Assessment Scale for Children, Third Edition, and either of two CPTs. Results: Multiple regression models found that when self-reported anxiety and CPT performance were used to simultaneously predict self-reported ADHD symptoms, CPT performance was not a significant predictor, whereas self-reported anxiety was. This finding was replicated across two different subsamples that took different CPTs. Conclusion: Self-reported anxiety and ADHD symptoms are strongly related, but neither of these variables is significantly related to CPT performance. Implications for clinical practice and future research are discussed.