Original Research J Clin Psychiatry September 2025

Validity of an Online Assessment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Among a Real-World Sample of Adults Seeking Web-Based Mental Health Care

Full Article Read the complete peer-reviewed article in J Clin Psychiatry. Clinical Summary Adults seeking ADHD care online often face delayed diagnosis and uneven access to behavioral health services, yet clinicians have had little published evidence on whether asynchronous online ADHD assessments are valid. In this help-seeking population, the key clinical question is whether a positive online diagnosis can be trusted and whether a negative result should end the evaluation. FAQ How accurate was the online ADHD assessment in adults seeking care online?

Key Takeaways In this self-referred population, pretest probability was extremely high: 92.8% were ADHD-positive on clinical interview and 78.8% on the online assessment. Clinicians should interpret these performance characteristics as applying to help-seeking adults, not to general screening in lower-prevalence settings. Clinical Guide How should clinicians interpret and act on a positive asynchronous online ADHD assessment in adults seeking web-based care? Clinical Guide What should clinicians do when an adult seeking web-based ADHD care has a negative asynchronous online ADHD assessment?