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ASRS-v1.1

Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (Part A — 6-item screener)

A free, validated screening tool for adult ADHD inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity. Your answers are scored in your browser — nothing is saved or transmitted.

About this tool

  • •The ASRS-v1.1 Part A is the 6-item adult ADHD screener developed by the WHO World Mental Health Survey Initiative — the most-validated brief ADHD screen for adults.
  • •Adult ADHD is meaningfully under-diagnosed, particularly in women — recent estimates suggest 2-5% of adults have ADHD but many haven't been clinically identified.
  • •The 6 items cover the inattention symptoms (items 1-4) and hyperactivity-impulsivity (items 5-6) clusters from DSM criteria, condensed to the items most predictive of ADHD diagnosis.
  • •A positive screen warrants comprehensive clinical evaluation — not diagnosis. The full ADHD diagnostic process includes childhood-symptom history, functional impairment, and ruling out conditions that mimic ADHD (depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, hypothyroidism).
  • •Adult ADHD coexists frequently with depression and anxiety — about 50% of adults with ADHD have a comorbid mood or anxiety disorder. Treating both together produces better outcomes than treating either alone.
  • •For patients with ADHD plus treatment-resistant depression, ketamine's rapid antidepressant mechanism can be valuable alongside stimulant or non-stimulant ADHD treatment.
  • •ASRS-v1.1 was developed by Kessler et al (2005) at Harvard Medical School in collaboration with the WHO. It is in the public domain.

Take the ASRS-v1.1

Please answer the questions below, rating yourself on each criteria based on how you have felt and conducted yourself over the past 6 months.

1.How often do you have trouble wrapping up the final details of a project, once the challenging parts have been done?
2.How often do you have difficulty getting things in order when you have to do a task that requires organization?
3.How often do you have problems remembering appointments or obligations?
4.When you have a task that requires a lot of thought, how often do you avoid or delay getting started?
5.How often do you fidget or squirm with your hands or feet when you have to sit down for a long time?
6.How often do you feel overly active and compelled to do things, like you were driven by a motor?

0 of 6 answered

Your answers are processed in your browser. Nothing is saved or sent to anyone — including Tovani — until you choose to.

Frequently asked

Is this a diagnosis of ADHD?

No. The ASRS is a screening tool — it identifies people who should consider clinical evaluation, not who has ADHD. The full diagnostic process requires evidence of childhood symptoms (ADHD doesn't develop in adulthood), current functional impairment, and ruling out other conditions. A positive ASRS is a starting signal, not the conclusion.

Could my "ADHD symptoms" actually be depression or anxiety?

Yes — and this is one of the most-missed clinical pictures. Depression produces reduced concentration and motivation that looks like inattention; anxiety produces working-memory consumption that looks like distractibility. The right evaluation distinguishes ADHD from these conditions or identifies that you have both. The PHQ-9 and GAD-7 screens on this site can help map the picture.

Why is adult ADHD so under-diagnosed in women?

Childhood ADHD criteria were validated primarily in boys with hyperactive presentations — girls more often have predominantly inattentive ADHD that doesn't cause classroom disruption and gets missed. Many women are diagnosed only in their 30s-40s when life demands exceed their compensatory strategies. The ASRS captures both presentations, which is part of why it's a useful tool for adult women specifically.

Can I take ketamine while on stimulants?

In most cases, yes. Stimulants (Adderall, Vyvanse, Concerta, Ritalin) and ketamine work through different mechanisms (dopaminergic stimulation vs NMDA antagonism) and are generally compatible. The combination requires clinical screening, especially for cardiovascular factors. Your physician reviews your full regimen during the consultation.

What about the more accurate item-threshold scoring?

The validated ASRS-v1.1 scoring uses item-specific thresholds (items 1-3 positive if "Sometimes" or higher; items 4-6 positive if "Often" or higher; 4+ positive items = positive screen) rather than the simple sum used here for accessibility. The two approaches typically agree at the screening threshold; for clinical use, a trained evaluator will use the item-threshold version and combine with the full diagnostic interview.

References

  1. Murrough JW et al. 2013, American Journal of Psychiatry. Ketamine RCT in treatment-resistant depression — relevant for patients with comorbid ADHD where depression hasn't responded to standard antidepressants. PMID 23982301
  2. Sanacora G et al. 2017, JAMA Psychiatry. APA consensus on ketamine in mood disorders — addresses complex psychiatric presentations including patients with comorbid attentional or executive dysfunction. PMID 28249076

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