Investigating the validity of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire to assess ADHD in young adulthood

Lucy Riglin,Sharifah Shameem Agha,Olga Eyre,Rhys Bevan Jones,Robyn E Wootton,Ajay K Thapar,Stephan Collishaw,Evie Stergiakouli,Kate Langley,Anita Thapar

doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2021.113984

Abstract

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptoms typically onset early and persist into adulthood for many. Robust investigation of symptom continuity and discontinuity requires repeated assessments using the same measure, but research is lacking into whether measures used to assess ADHD symptoms in childhood are also valid in adulthood. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) is widely used to assess ADHD symptoms in children, but little is known about its utility in adulthood. The aim of this study was to assess the validity of the SDQ hyperactivity/ADHD subscale to distinguish between cases and non-cases of DSM-5 ADHD at age 25 years in a UK population cohort (N = 4121). ADHD diagnosis was derived using the Barkley Adult ADHD Rating Scale-IV. Analyses suggested that the self-rated SDQ ADHD subscale had high validity in distinguishing ADHD cases/non-cases in young adulthood (area under the curve=0.90, 95% CI=0.87–0.93) and indicated a lower cut-point for identifying those who may have an ADHD diagnosis in this age group compared to that currently recommended for younger ages. Findings were similar for parent-reports. Our findings suggest that the SDQ is suitable for ADHD research across different developmental periods, which will aid the robust investigation of ADHD from childhood to young adulthood.

Highlights

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) typically is a childhood-onset neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by symp toms of inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity
As has been re ported elsewhere (Riglin et al, 2020), the mean Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) hyperactivity score was higher in males than in females
This study aimed to examine the validity of the SDQ as an assessment of ADHD symptoms at age 25 years in a UK population cohort

Summary

Introduction

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) typically is a childhood-onset neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by symp toms of inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity. ADHD symptoms are associated with distress and impairment, including in educational, occupational, social and other settings, across childhood, adolescence and in adulthood (Asherson et al, 2012; Thapar and Cooper, 2016). Given the life-course impacts of ADHD, there is a need to be able to assess symptoms across development to monitor and investigate corre lates of symptom persistence and desistence. Robust investigation of symptom continuity and discontinuity requires repeated assessments using the same measure (Goodman et al, 2007); there is a lack of research into whether measures commonly used to assess ADHD symptoms in childhood and adolescence are

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion