When Measures Diverge: The Intersection of Psychometric Instruments an Clinical Judgment in Multimodal Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Assessment

Adults are increasingly seeking evaluation for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Current guidelines emphasize a multimodal assessment of ADHD in adults, but do not address how practitioners should integrate findings from multiple measures. The present study examines associations among self-report, behavioral, and neuropsychological measures used during multimodal assessment in an outpatient ADHD assessment group. Archival data of 45 adults seeking assessment were analyzed. Findings indicate measures exhibited weak or no relation to one another, suggesting measures commonly used in ADHD assessment likely assess different underlying constructs. Implications and recommendations for clinicians diagnosing adult ADHD are discussed. The importance of other sources of diagnostic information (e.g., clinical interview, behavioral observations) and consultation among colleagues are also discussed.