The Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) v1.1 is a World Health Organization symptom checklist that helps identify attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in adults. Built on the DSM symptom criteria, its 18 items capture how often inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity symptoms occur, and its 6-item Part A works as a rapid, validated screener that prompts further evaluation.
Why healthcare providers use the ASRS
- Fast screening. Six Part A questions flag adults whose symptoms warrant a fuller diagnostic assessment.
- Patient-reported. It captures how often symptoms occur in the patient's own words, adding context to the clinical interview.
- Standardized language. Every patient answers the same DSM-aligned items, so responses stay comparable across visits and clinicians.
- Freely available. The World Health Organization offers it for clinical use, and it appears across primary care and psychiatry.
- Brief to complete. Most adults finish the full 18-item checklist in a few minutes, keeping intake efficient.
Which settings use the ASRS?
- Primary care. Clinicians use Part A to decide whether an adult reporting focus or restlessness problems needs a fuller ADHD workup.
- Psychiatry and behavioral health. Specialists use the full checklist alongside interview and history to inform a diagnosis.
- College and student health. Services screen adults presenting with academic or organizational difficulties.
- Telehealth. Patients complete it remotely before a virtual visit, so the clinician reviews results first.
What does the ASRS measure?
The ASRS measures how frequently a patient experiences the adult ADHD symptoms defined by the DSM. Because the instrument is copyrighted by the World Health Organization, the domains are described here rather than the items reproduced. Responses span two core symptom areas.
- Inattention. Difficulty sustaining attention, organizing tasks, following through, and remembering routine obligations.
- Hyperactivity and impulsivity. Restlessness, fidgeting, feeling driven to move, acting before thinking, and difficulty settling.
- Symptom frequency. Each item asks how often a symptom occurs over the past six months, not simply whether it is present.
Scoring the ASRS
- Number of items. 18 in the full symptom checklist: a 6-item Part A screener plus a 12-item Part B.
- Per-item scale. A 5-point frequency scale from Never to Very Often, scored 0 to 4.
- Total score range. Part A, the validated screener, scores 0 to 24 on the updated points method, with each of its 6 items scored 0 to 4.
- Score direction. Higher scores reflect more frequent symptoms and a stronger positive screen.
The ASRS is a screener, not a diagnostic test. Part A has two recognized scoring approaches. The original shaded-box method flags a positive screen when 4 or more of the 6 responses fall in the marked frequency ranges, indicating symptoms highly consistent with adult ADHD. A newer points-based method sums the 6 items on a 0 to 24 scale, where 14 or more suggests a positive screen. A positive result prompts further assessment and does not confirm a diagnosis. Interpret scores alongside history, clinical interview, and possible co-occurring conditions. The bands below follow the updated Part A points scoring.
| Score | Interpretation | Suggested next step |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 9 | Low negative screen | Monitor if concerns persist |
| 10 to 13 | High negative screen | Consider re-screening or watchful waiting |
| 14 to 17 | Low positive screen | Consider further assessment |
| 18 to 24 | High positive screen | Consider further diagnostic evaluation |
Best practices for administration
- Start with Part A. Use the 6-item screener to decide who needs the full checklist or a diagnostic interview.
- Anchor to a timeframe. Ask patients to rate symptoms over the past six months for consistent responses.
- Pair with history. Adult ADHD requires symptoms beginning in childhood, so review developmental and academic history.
- Consider comorbidity. Anxiety, depression, and sleep problems can mimic or accompany ADHD, so screen for them when indicated.
- Re-administer over time. Repeat the checklist to see how symptom frequency shifts across visits.
- Keep it self-report. Let patients complete it privately to reduce pressure to answer in a particular way.
How Zentake helps with the ASRS
- Automatic scoring. Zentake totals Part A on submit, so there is no hand-tallying of shaded boxes.
- Longitudinal tracking. Re-send the ASRS on a schedule and view how symptom frequency changes over time.
- Before the visit. Patients complete it from home on any device, so mental health practices start the visit already informed.
- HIPAA compliant. Responses are encrypted, with a signed BAA on every plan.
References
The ASRS was developed by the World Health Organization with Kessler and colleagues. See Kessler RC, Adler L, Ames M, et al. The World Health Organization Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS): a short screening scale for use in the general population. Psychological Medicine. 2005;35(2):245-256. The instrument and scoring materials are hosted by the Harvard Medical School NCS ADHD page.
The Part A cutoffs and the updated 0 to 24 points scoring, including the four-band strata used above, follow the ASRS v1.1 screener scoring update. Scale summaries and psychometrics are also compiled by NovoPsych.
Last updated: August 2026