ASRS v1.1
Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale
In this guide
Six-item Part A screen (with 12-item Part B for full symptom profile) for adult ADHD developed with the WHO.
The ASRS v1.1 (Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale) was developed with the World Health Organization (Kessler et al., 2005). Its six-item Part A is the screener; the full 18 items map onto the DSM ADHD symptom list. Clients rate how often each symptom occurred over the past six months.
When to use the ASRS v1.1
Use the ASRS v1.1 when an adult reports lifelong difficulty with focus, organization, deadlines, or restlessness. Part A's six items are the screen; four or more darkened boxes means a full ADHD evaluation is warranted.
What the ASRS v1.1 measures
Part A: six items found most predictive of ADHD diagnosis in WHO/Harvard validation work. Part B: 12 additional items for full DSM-aligned symptom coverage.
Use the ASRS v1.1 when
- An adult self-identifies attention, procrastination, or organization problems
- Chronic underachievement or job/relationship instability with a childhood-onset history
- Treatment-resistant anxiety or depression where executive dysfunction may be primary
- Before referring for diagnostic ADHD assessment, to document rationale
Why use the ASRS v1.1 instead of another measure
Part A's six items were selected specifically to maximize predictive power, so a very short screen carries most of the diagnostic signal. It is free, WHO-developed, and widely accepted as documentation for referral.
When not to use the ASRS v1.1
- You need a diagnosis — ADHD requires childhood-onset evidence, cross-setting impairment, and differential assessment
- Untreated depression, anxiety, trauma, sleep apnea, or substance use could explain the symptoms
- Assessing a child or adolescent — use Vanderbilt or Conners rating scales
Scoring and bands
ASRS v1.1 scores should be interpreted alongside the clinical interview, the client's context, and the measure's intended population. A cutoff suggests follow-up; it does not establish a diagnosis.
Cutoffs
Each Part A item has its own shaded scoring zone — count items whose response falls within the shaded box. ≥4 darkened items = positive screen.
What ASRS v1.1 results mean — and what to do next
Negative screen.
Next stepLook for other causes of attentional difficulty: sleep, mood, anxiety, trauma, substances.
Symptoms highly consistent with adult ADHD.
Next stepRefer for a full diagnostic evaluation; review Part B for the symptom profile and start executive-function skills work in the meantime.
How often to re-administer
Once for screening. Use symptom-specific tracking rather than re-screening to monitor treatment.
What to pair it with
PHQ-9 and GAD-7 (comorbid and confounding), plus a sleep review before attributing symptoms to ADHD.
How to talk about the score
The ASRS is a screen, not a diagnostic. A positive screen calls for a full ADHD evaluation including developmental history (symptoms must trace to childhood), functional impairment, and rule-outs for trauma, anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders that can mimic ADHD.
Limitations
- Self-report
- Doesn't distinguish ADHD from anxiety/depression-driven attention problems
- Childhood-onset criterion isn't assessed
- Vulnerable to malingering when stimulants are sought
Best used for
- Initial screening when ADHD is a possibility
- Adult intake for psychotherapy with chronic executive complaints
- Pre-evaluation triage
ASRS Part A scoring — the shaded-box rule
On the official form, certain answers are shaded. For items 1–3, 'Sometimes' or more frequent counts; for items 4–6, 'Often' or more frequent counts. Four or more answers in shaded boxes on Part A is a positive screen consistent with adult ADHD and warrants a full evaluation.
What a positive ASRS screen means
A positive screen is not a diagnosis. Diagnosis requires a clinical interview establishing symptoms since childhood, impairment in more than one setting, and ruling out other explanations such as anxiety, depression, sleep problems or substance use.
Frequently asked questions about the ASRS v1.1
Is the ASRS enough to start medication?
No. Medication decisions require a full diagnostic evaluation including childhood history, rule-outs, and functional impairment. The ASRS opens the door.
Why is the ASRS missing inattention vs. hyperactivity subtypes?
Part A is intentionally brief and atheoretical. Use Part B alongside DSM symptom inventories to characterize subtype.
How many questions are on the ASRS screener?
Six (Part A). The full ASRS v1.1 has 18 items; Part B adds detail but is not used for the screening decision.
References
Scoring bands and cutoffs on this page come from these published sources. This guide is educational and does not replace clinical judgment.
- Kessler, R. C., Adler, L., Ames, M., et al. (2005). The World Health Organization Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS). Psychological Medicine, 35(2), 245–256.Supports: Instrument, Part A screener and scoring
- Ustun, B., Adler, L. A., Rudin, C., et al. (2017). The World Health Organization Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Self-Report Screening Scale for DSM-5. JAMA Psychiatry, 74(5), 520–526.Supports: DSM-5 update of the screener