Self-report of attention and hyperactivity-impulsivity

Approximately 3,4% of adults are diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD; Fayyad et al., 2007). The DSM-5 (American Psychiatric Association, 2013) and the ICD-10 (World Health Organization, 1992) both consider ADHD as a category rather than a continuum, although empirical evidence rather supports the latter view (e.g., Coghill & Sonuga-Barke, 2012). In contrast to existing questionnaires and diagnostic instruments for ADHD, the SWAN-DE (Schulz-Zhecheva et al., 2017), a questionnaire assessing ADHD symptoms via parent-report, views ADHD as a continuum. Thus, it is possible, to assess the whole spectrum of attention and hyperactivity-impulsivity symptoms, including their positive manifestations (i.e., functions, not only dysfunctions). Additionally, such an approach allows to examine the whole spectrum of symptoms, even clinically irrelevant symptom intensities. This seems especially relevant from a research perspective.

This project aims to assess the reliability and validity of a newly developed self-report questionnaire assessing strengths and difficulties of ADHD symptoms and normal behavior. As no German questionnaire was available, this questionnaire, which we call the SWAN-DE self-report for adults (SWAN-DE-SRA) was developed on the basis of the SWAN-DE (Schulz-Zhecheva et al., 2017).