TY - JOUR
AR - PDR-2020-1-102
TI - Conners’ Adult ADHD Rating Scale Infrequency Index Validation and Pilot Comparison of Administration Formats
AU -  Jordan P. Harp, 
AU - Brittany D. Walls, 
AU - David T. R. Berry, 
AU - Elizabeth, Wallace
AU - Frederick A. Schmitt, 
AU - Kullen C. Balthrop, 
AU - Lisa M. Koehl, 
AU - Natasha E. Garcia-Willingham, 
AU - Stacey L. Brothers, 
AU - Tia N. Borger, 
JO - Psychological Disorders and Research
PY - 2020
DA - Sat 01, Feb 2020
SN - 2674-2470
DO - http://dx.doi.org/10.31487/j.PDR.2020.01.02
UR - https://www.sciencerepository.org/conners-adult-adhd-rating-scale-infrequency_PDR-2020-1-102 
KW - ADHD, feign, self-report, symptom validity, college student
AB - One major obstacle to the accurate diagnosis of ADHD in college students is malingering, although many
symptom self-report measures used in the diagnostic process do not contain validity scales to identify
feigners. The Infrequency Index (CII) for the Conners’ Adult ADHD Rating Scale–Self-Report: Long
Version (CAARS-S: L) was developed in response to this concern, although further validation of this index
is needed. Another topic of interest in ADHD malingering research is the increasing use of online
assessments. However, little is known about how ADHD is malingered in an online format, particularly on
the CAARS-S: L. The current study utilized a coached simulation design to examine the feigning detection
accuracy of the CII and provide initial results on the effect of administration format (paper vs. online) on
CAARS-S: L profiles. Data from 139 students were analyzed. Students with ADHD and students instructed
to feign the disorder produced statistically comparable elevations on seven of eight CAARS-S: L clinical
scales. Clinical scale elevations were generally comparable between paper and online forms, although some
differences in the clinical and simulated ADHD groups suggest the need for further research. The CII
demonstrated modest sensitivity (0.36) and adequate specificity (0.85) at the recommended cut score across
administration formats. Specificity reached desirable levels (>= .90) at a raised cut score. These values were
similar across administration formats. Results support the use of the CII and online CAARS-S: L form