Comparison of Ease of Falsification of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Diagnosis Using Standard Behavioral Rating Scales

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the ability of college students to falsify a positive Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) diagnosis after reading the DSM-IV-TR criteria for the disorder. Introductory psychology students at UCLA were given one of four commonly used diagnostic batteries and asked to answer as if they were afflicted with the disorder. The four batteries used were the Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS), the Conners Adult ADHD SelfReport of Symptoms (CAARS), the Brown Adult ADHD Scale (BAAS), and the ADHD Rating Scale (ARS). It is expected that the Conners and Brown scales will be more effective in preventing a falsified diagnosis than the other three measures, but the results indicated that all four batteries were significantly falsifiable. The Wender scale and ARS were found to be somewhat less conducive to diagnosis falsification than the Brown scale. Hyperactivity was found to be the most crucial factor in diagnosis determination of both the ARS and Conners scales. While gender did not seem to be significant in determining the diagnosis for the ARS, the Conners scale, or the Brown scale, it was found to be the primary factor within the Wender scale. The results of this study may have implications in future methods of diagnosis of ADHD for the purpose of qualification for services for students with disabilities.