Validation of the Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Quality-of-Life Scale (AAQoL): A Disease-Specific Quality-of-Life Measure

Abstract

A 29-item AAQoL was found to have robust scale structure with four domains: Life Productivity, Psychological Health, Relationships and Life outlook. Internal consistency was adequate (0.93 for overall, 0.75-0.93 for subscales), and construct and known-groups validity were supported. conclusion: The AAQoL appears to be a valid measure of quality of life for adults with ADHD and can be considered for incorporation into future studies. The ability to quantify the quality-of-life consequences of adult ADHD should facilitate future research, assist clinicians in identifying appropriate treatment targets and contribute to the ultimate goal of improving the well-being and functioning of adults with ADHD.

Validade de constructo e confiabilidade da versão em língua portuguesa do Questionário de Qualidade de Vida em Adultos que apresentam TDAH (AAQoL)

“…In a recent study 18 which proposes a distinct scale of QoL for adults with ADHD (ADHD Impact Module for Adults -AIM-A), employing a methodology similar to that used in validation study of the original AAQoL, as for a number of other studies in literature, enrolled patients were assessed without using a semi-structured interview both for ADHD diagnosis and comorbidities. Classification according to ASRS score severity in mild (0-18), moderate (19)(20), and severe (21 or more), as used in the original paper of Brod 9 , was not applicable to this study, since, in ADHD group, 29 patients (100%) had scores that would categorize them as "severe ADHD"; then, an analysis of symptoms severity in the total sample and in all 3 groups was performed. In total sample, statistically significant negative correlations between total score of ASRS scale and AAQoL subscales scores were found, indicating that the higher the ASRS score, the lower AAQoL subscales score.…”

“…The Adult ADHD Quality of Life Questionnaire (AAQoL) 9 is a specially designed questionnaire to evaluate the impact of ADHD on patients' QoL. Its structure was developed based on systematization of a data set of symptoms and disease impact collected with their own patients, with specialists in ADHD and in specific literature.…”

“…This data allowed a conceptual model of the impact of adult ADHD on subject's quality of life. In the validation study the analysis of psychometric properties of the original scale has revealed a global internal consistency of 0.93 and from 0.75 to 0.93 for each of four proposed subscales 9 . The purpose of this study was to investigate its reliability and construct validity in a sample of adult ADHD patients in Brazil.…”

Quantitative measurement of impairment in ADHD: perspectives for research and clinical practice

“…Since our aim was to develop a new instrument meeting the above requirements, we evaluated the existing ones 13,[18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28] for different age groups, taking into consideration time for administration, comprehensiveness (coverage of domains) and psychometric properties when available. From these, we have identified six different domains (family, learning and work, social activities, activities of daily living, self-perception and risky activities); four of them were selected for the GEDA instrument: family life, social life, self-perception and performance.…”

Qualidade de vida e TDAH

“…Para preencher a lacuna de um instrumento específico para avaliar qualidade de vida em adultos portadores de TDAH, foi desenvolvido o Adult ADHD Quality of Life Questionnaire (AAQoL) ou Questionário de Qualidade de Vida em Adultos com TDAH (Brod et al, 2006). A sua estrutura foi desenvolvida a partir da sistematização de um conjunto de informações sobre os sintomas e o impacto da doença, colhido com os próprios pacientes, com especialistas em TDAH e na literatura específica.…”