A Novel Device for the Management of ADHD

The Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) is a self-report instrument that comprises eighteen items that correspond with the DSM-V-TR criteria for ADHD. Subjects are asked to rate 18 symptom items using a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 0 ('Never') to 4 ('Very Often'). Total scores range from 0 to 72, based on the sum of all 18 questions. Higher scores mean more symptoms and higher ADHD's impairments. Lower values represent better outcomes. The ASRS has two subscales that can be used to identify ADHD subtypes - Inattentiveness and Hyperactivity/Impulsivity. Each subscale contains 9 questions.

The inattentiveness sub-scale of the ASRS measures difficulties with focusing on details, organisation, remembering appointments, making careless mistakes, and concentration. It includes 9 symptom items using a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 0 ('Never') to 4 ('Very Often'). Total scores range from 0 to 36, based on the sum of all questions. Higher scores mean more symptoms and higher inattentiveness' impairments.

Based on an interview with the participant, the clinician rates the total improvement on a 7 point scale as follows: 1=very much improved since the initiation of treatment; 2=much improved; 3=minimally improved; 4=no change from baseline (the initiation of treatment); 5=minimally worse; 6= much worse; 7=very much worse since the initiation of treatment.

Conners' Continuous Performance Test-3 (CPT-3) is an objective test of attention and impulsivity that has been validated in individuals aged 8 years and older.

d-prime (d') is a measure of how well the respondent discriminates nontargets (i.e., the letter X) from targets (i.e., all other letters). This variable is also a signal detection statistic that measures the difference between the signal (targets) and noise (non-targets) distributions. In general, the greater the difference between the signal and noise distributions, the better the ability to distinguish non-targets and targets.

CPT scores are age and gender standardized T-scores, in which the mean is equal to 50 and the standard deviation is equal to 10. d' is reverse-scored so that higher raw score and T-score values indicate worse performance (i.e., poorer discrimination). Atypical scores are higher than 60 indicating "elevated" to "very elevated" performance.

The Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function Adult Version (BRIEF-A) is a standardized measure that captures views of adults' executive functions or self-regulation in their everyday environment. Items are rated on a 3-points Likert scale of 1 ('Never') to 3 ('Often').

The Metacognition Index (MI) of the BRIEF-A reflects the individual's ability to initiate activity and generate problem-solving ideas, to sustain working memory, to plan and organize problem-solving approaches, to monitor success and failure in problem solving, and to organize one's materials and environment. The MI subscale includes 40-items with score ranges between 40 to 120. Higher values represent worse outcome and greater difficulties with executive functions.