The Validity of the SNAP-IV in Children Displaying ADHD Symptoms

Hall, Charlotte L.; Guo, Boliang; Valentine, Althea Z.; Groom, Madeline J.; Daley, David; Sayal, Kapil; Hollis, Chris

Abstract

The Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham Rating Scale (SNAP-IV) is a widely used scale that measures the core symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, there are contradictory findings regarding factor structure. Factor structure and measurement equivalence/invariance (ME/I) analysis on parent and teacher SNAP-IV for children referred for an ADHD assessment (n = 250; 6-17 years), revealed a 2-factor structure provided the best fit. SNAP-IV scores were also compared with clinician diagnosis of ADHD and research diagnoses of ADHD and hyperkinetic disorder (HKD). Parent ratings of inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity were good predictors of research but not clinician diagnosis. For teacher ratings, only hyperactivity/impulsivity scores were associated with research and clinician diagnosis. SNAP-IV scores showed high sensitivity but low specificity to clinician diagnosis. The SNAP-IV is a valid outcome measure for use in RCTs and clinical settings, and is best used as a screening rather than a diagnostic tool for ADHD.

Citation

Hall, C. L., Guo, B., Valentine, A. Z., Groom, M. J., Daley, D., Sayal, K., & Hollis, C. (2020). The Validity of the SNAP-IV in Children Displaying ADHD Symptoms. Assessment, 27(6), 1258-1271. https://doi.org/10.1177/1073191119842255

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 8, 2019
• Online Publication Date: Apr 16, 2019
• Publication Date: Sep 1, 2020
• Deposit Date: Mar 13, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 13, 2019
• Journal: Assessment
• Print ISSN: 1073-1911
• Electronic ISSN: 1552-3489
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 27
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 1258-1271
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1073191119842255
• Keywords: Exploratory Structural Equation Modelling; Factor Analysis; Criterion validity
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1634624
• Publisher URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/eprint/mzTd2TURA2WyxjU9RmW5/full
• Contract Date: Mar 13, 2019