PRELIMINARY NORMATIVE DATA ON DSM-IV ATTENTION-DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER IN COLLEGE-STUDENTS

Identification of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in a dults presents a number of problems because there is no one specific d iagnostic test for the condition. Given this challenge, clinicians oft en struggle between restrictive and exclusionary diagnostic methods or overinclusive acceptance that ADHD is a prevalent and disabling probl em. A modified version of the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Rating S cale was administered to 468 students at a large midwestern university . Analysis of the results suggested that the degree of ADHD symptoms i n college students is modest and indicated that cutoff scores of 4 for current symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity would b e sufficient to identify a college student as distinct from the norm. Although it would be premature to accept the calculated thresholds com pletely, clinicians should be aware of these differences when evaluati ng college students for ADHD.