What is the WURS?

The Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS) is a 25-item retrospective self-report questionnaire designed to assess childhood symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults. It helps identify individuals who likely had ADHD as children.

Purpose and Use

• Retrospective Assessment: Evaluate childhood ADHD symptoms in adults
• Adult ADHD Diagnosis: Support diagnosis of ADHD in adulthood
• Screening Tool: Initial identification of potential ADHD history
• Research: Study ADHD across the lifespan

What It Measures

• Attention Difficulties: Problems with focus and concentration
• Hyperactivity: Restlessness and excessive activity
• Impulsivity: Poor impulse control and decision-making
• Emotional Dysregulation: Mood instability and irritability
• Behavioral Problems: Conduct and social difficulties

Scoring and Interpretation

• Response Scale: 0 (Not at all or very slightly) to 4 (Very much)
• Total Score: Sum of all 25 items (range 0-100)
• Cutoff Score: ≥46 suggests childhood ADHD
• Clinical Significance: Higher scores indicate greater symptom severity

Clinical Applications

• Adult ADHD: Retrospective symptom assessment
• Differential Diagnosis: Distinguish ADHD from other conditions
• Treatment Planning: Guide intervention selection
• Research: Longitudinal ADHD studies

Advantages

• Retrospective childhood assessment
• Brief and easy to administer
• Strong psychometric properties
• Validated in adult ADHD populations
• Helps confirm ADHD diagnosis in adults

Limitations

• Retrospective self-report only
• Relies on memory of childhood symptoms
• Not a diagnostic tool by itself
• May be affected by current mental state