The Problem of Identifying and Diagnosing Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (AADHD): Results and Implications of a South African Study

Abstract

In this study an attempt is made to design a more South African relevant self-report questionnaire. In attempt to design such an instrument 402 undergraduate Psychology students responded to an online survey in which they completed a number of existing, and widely used self-report questionnaires. An exploratory factor analysis was performed on the data to extract key symptoms that could be included in a self-report questionnaire. A number of items were identified and included in a newly constructed questionnaire. Although there are some similarities to other questionnaires it differs from those in that it includes a wider variety of symptoms, and is also structured in such a way that it covers behavioural, cognitive and emotional aspects of ADHD.