(Conners 3) Conners, Third Edition

BY C. KEITH CONNERS, PHD

This updated third edition of the popular Conners’ Rating Scales sets a new standard for assessing Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and related learning, behavior, and emotional problems in children and teens. Like previous versions, the Conners 3 combines teacher, parent, and student reports to provide a particularly detailed and comprehensive evaluation of student behavior. This edition offers a more refined assessment of ADHD and comorbid disorders, stronger links to the DSM-IV-TR, new symptom and validity scales, updated norms, and more.

A Complete Profile

The Conners 3 is composed of the following scales:

Empirical Scales

• Hyperactivity/Impulsivity
• Executive Functioning
• Learning Problems
• Aggression
• Peer Relations
• Family Relations

Rational Scale

• Inattention

DSM-IV-TR Symptom Scales

• ADHD Hyperactive/Impulsive
• ADHD Inattentive
• ADHD Combined
• Oppositional Defiant Disorder
• Conduct Disorder

Validity Scales

• Positive Impression
• Negative Impression
• Inconsistency Index

Also included are two useful indexes, each composed of 10 items:

• Global Index
• ADHD Index

In addition, the Conners 3 includes new items that alert you to specific problems:

Screener Items

• Anxiety
• Depression

Impairment Items

• Schoolwork/Grades
• Friendships/Relationships
• Home Life

Critical Items

• Severe Conduct 

The Screener Items uncover mood disorders that might otherwise go undetected, while the Impairment Items tell you how the student’s problems are affecting his or her academic functioning, home life, and friendships. The Critical Items identify youngsters with severe behavior problems (such as weapons use or fire-setting) who need immediate attention.

Three Rating Scales and Three Perspectives

The Conners 3 includes three rating scales, one completed by the teacher, one by the parent or caregiver, and one by the student. All are available in long and short forms: 

• Teacher Rating Scale

         Long Form—115 items
         Short Form—39 items

• Parent Rating Scale

         Long Form—110 items
         Short Form—43 items

• Self-Report Rating Scale

         Long Form—59 items
         Short Form—39 items

The Teacher and Parent Scales, written at a fourth- to fifth-grade reading level, can be used to evaluate students from 6 through 18 years of age. The Self-Report Scale, written at a third-grade reading level, is appropriate for 8- to 18-year-olds. Long forms take about 20 minutes to complete, while short forms require only 10 minutes.

When to Use Long and Short Forms

Because they yield more detailed information, the long forms are recommended for initial evaluation. They support diagnosis through direct links to the DSM-IV-TR and are helpful in identifying the specific needs of each student.    

The short forms are useful when time is limited or when you are planning multiple administrations over a given period, as you would for progress monitoring. They include the strongest items from the following long-form scales: Hyperactivity/Impulsivity, Inattention, Executive Functioning, Learning Problems, Aggression, Peer Relations, Positive Impression, and Negative Impression.

ADHD Index

The Conners 3 also offers a convenient ADHD Index. Composed of the 10 items that best differentiate children with ADHD from those without a clinical diagnosis, this brief index is ideal for screening large numbers of children and teens. It’s also a quick way to measure treatment effectiveness or response to intervention. Available as a parent, teacher, or self-report rating, the index is included in the full-length Conners 3 but can be purchased separately as well—a convenient option when you want to rapidly identify students at risk for ADHD.

Hand Scoring or Unlimited-Use Computer Scoring

With the Conners 3, you can choose the Hand-Scored Kit or the Software Kit. The latter gives you unlimited computer scoring, quick and effortless profile generation, links to DSM-IV-TR diagnostic criteria, IDEA eligibility indicators, and three useful reports:

• Assessment Report 

Comprehensive results, including a total score and a symptom count score.

• Feedback Report

An assessment summary that’s easy for parents and teachers to understand.

• Progress Report

Acomparison of results from two to four administrations of the Conners 3 to the same student, documenting changes over time.

You can cut and paste portions of these reports into your own documents to create a customized narrative for each child assessed.

Normative data, based on 1,200 parent ratings, 1,200 teacher ratings, and 1,000 self-reports, are presented at 1-year age intervals and separated by sex. The standardization sample reflects the U.S. population in regard to race, ethnicity, gender, and parent education.

Problem Identification and Intervention Guidance

The Conners 3 gives you the complete picture, from assessment to intervention. It draws on three sources of information; it measures not only ADHD, but also accompanying behavioral, emotional, cognitive, family, and social problems; and it guides you in planning effective intervention. Results from the Conners 3 help you create, monitor, and modify individualized treatment programs. 

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