Conners Adult ADHD Rating Scales (CAARS)

Purpose: Measures the presence and severity of ADHD symptoms in adults ages 18 and older

Age: 18+ years

Time: 10 - 15 minutes for each form

The Conners' Adult ADHD Rating Scales (CAARS) measures the presence and severity of ADHD symptoms so that you can determine whether ADHD is a contributing factor to your clients' difficulties. Suitable for clinical, research, rehabilitation, and correctional settings, the CAARS scales quantitatively measures ADHD symptoms across clinically significant domains, while examining the manifestations of those symptoms.

The CAARS provides a multiple-informant assessment with self-report (CAARS–S) and observer ratings (CAARS–O). Both ratings address the same behaviours and contain identical scales, subscales, and indexes. Long, short, and screening versions are available for each. With the handscored format, raw scores and T-scores are produced for each scale, subscale, and index and are then plotted on Profile Forms. With the online format, Profile Reports and Interpretive Reports can be instantly generated.

Long Forms

The long self-report (CAARS-S:L) and observer (CAARS-O:L) forms provide scores for all subscales, the ADHD Index and Inconsistency Index. The long versions provide the most detailed information upon which to base treatment plans.

Short Forms

The short self-report (CAARS-S:S) and observer (CAARS-O:S) forms examine and highlight key dimensions, making them ideal when time with a respondent is limited. The short versions are also often used during treatment to track progress over time. They include abbreviated versions of the factor-derived subscales that are in the long versions. The ADHD Index and the Inconsistency Index are included as well.

Screening Forms

The screening versions of the self-report (CAARS-S:SV) and observer (CAARS-O:SV) forms focus on DSM-IV criteria for quick ADHD identification. They include the DSM-IV ADHD subscales and the ADHD Index to screen for the possibility of ADHD

Online Administration and Scoring (MHS Assessment Centre+)

The CAARS can be completed and automatically scored online. Online administration allows the assessor the flexibility to send a link to each respondent to complete the assessment at their location. Assessors using online scoring also have the option of printing E-Paper forms that can be scored online by entering the responses.

Profile Reports summarize the results of an individual administration, providing scores for all scales.

Interpretive Reports provide detailed information about scores from a single administration, presented both numerically and graphically. An individual's scores are compared to those in the normative sample and elevations at the scale and subscale level are indicated.

Online Reports can be generated for your chosen CAARS Form: Self-Report or Observer long forms (CAARS-S:L, CAARS-O:L), Self-Report or Observer short forms (CAARS-S:S, CAARS-S:O) or Self-Report or Observer Screening Forms (CAARS-S:SV, CAARS-O:SV).

Sample Online CAARS-S:L Interpretive Report

Sample Online CAARS-S:L Profile Report

MHS Online Assessment Center+ QuickStart Guide