ASRS
The Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS v1.1) is a brief self-report screen for ADHD in adults, developed with the World Health Organization. Its six-item Part A is the most-used screener.
What the ASRS measures
The ASRS v1.1 maps to the DSM criteria for ADHD. The full scale has 18 items, but the six-item Part A is the validated screener — the six questions most predictive of ADHD. Part B's remaining items add clinical detail.
Who it's for
Adults 18 and over. It is a screening instrument; a positive screen indicates further evaluation is warranted, not a diagnosis.
Scoring
On Part A, certain responses fall in shaded (higher-frequency) boxes. Four or more marks in the shaded boxes is a positive screen — symptoms highly consistent with adult ADHD that warrant a fuller clinical evaluation.
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What is a positive ASRS screen?
On the six-item Part A, four or more responses in the shaded boxes is a positive screen, indicating symptoms consistent with adult ADHD and a need for further evaluation.
Does the ASRS diagnose ADHD?
No. The ASRS is a screening tool. A positive Part A result means a full diagnostic assessment is warranted; the diagnosis itself is a clinical judgment.
This page is educational. Validated measures are screening and monitoring tools, not diagnoses — interpret every score in clinical context.