The Conners' Parent Rating Scales: A critical review of the literature

The Conners' Parent Rating Scales (CPRS) have undergone a considerable amou nt of scrutiny-and subsequent refining, reshaping, and revising since their development in 1970. While such longitudinal scrutiny has ultimately led t o a more reliable, valid assessment tool, it has left behind a wake of lite rature filled with misinformation and ambiguity. Multiple versions of the C onners' Rating Scales (CRS), their misuse, and inaccurate reporting by rese archers have created a body of literature that is difficult to interpret an d misleading to both researchers and clinicians. This review is aimed at cl arifying issues regarding the proper use of the CPRS as both a diagnostic i nstrument and a research tool. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights re served.