BACKGROUND: Several studies demonstrate that attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults is related to worse measures of quality of life. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the reliability and construct validity of the Portuguese version of the Adult ADHD Quality of Life Questionnaire (AAQoL). METHODS: Adults with age ranging from 18 to 60 years old were included in this study. According to their diagnostic status they were divided into three groups: a) ADHD subjects using DSM-IV criteria; b) subjects with subthreshold ADHD; c) control comparison group without ADHD. The following questionnaires were applied: ASRS; SF-36 and AAQoL. The first part of the study evaluated the construct validity of the instrument and in the second part its reliability was tested. RESULTS: ADHD, subthreshold ADHD and control groups comprised 29, 18 and 29 subjects, respectively. We found a negative correlation between the number of symptoms (ASRS) and the AAQoL total score considering all three groups. ADHD group presented worse levels of quality of life when compared to control group. As a whole, AAQol scores had significant correlation with SF-36 scores. Results indicated high levels of internal consistency and test-retest reliability. DISCUSSION: The AAQoL construct presented high internal consistency of items, stability and construct validity.
Translating; attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; quality of life; validation studies
