Correlation between the Wender-Utah rating scale and impulsivity, personality, anxiety and depression psychometric scales

Abstract

Background and aims:

The Wender-Utah Rating Scale (WURS) was developed for the retrospective diagnosis of childhood attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It consists of a list of childhood behaviours and symptoms suggestive of ADHD. Our objective was to study correlations of WURS scores with different impulsivity, personality, anxiety and depression psychometric scales.

Methods:

A group of 110 healthy university students were evaluated using the WURS. Four subjects scored higher than the cut-off value of 37 (compatible with childhood ADHD) and were excluded. The Barratt Impulsivity Scale (BIS-11), the Big Five Questionarie (BFQ), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were administered. Partial bivariate correlation analyses were performed.

Results:

WURS scores were correlated with total scores on the BIS-11 (r=0.430; p<0.001), as well as with the motor (r=0.410; p<0.001), attentional (r=0.328; p=0.001), and improvisation subscales (r=0.289; p=0.003). Regarding the BFQ, a correlation was found between WURS scores and the “emotional stability” factor (r=-0.379; p<0.001) as well as with the subfactors “emotion control” (r=-0.310; p=0.001) and “impulse control” (r=-0.354; p<0.001). Finally, significant correlations were also found between WURS scores and scores on the STAI-trait (r=0.366; p<0.001), STAI-state (r=0.200; p=0.039), and the BDI (r=0.350; p<0.001).

Conclusions:

Correlations between the WURS and other impulsivity-related psychometric scales such as the BIS-11, or the “emotional stability” factor and the “emotion control” and “impulse control” subfactors of the BFQ, provides evidence for the concurrent validity of the WURS. The correlation of this instrument with anxiety and depression scales points to possible clinical implications.