Psychometric properties of the Japanese version of the Adult Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) Self-Report Scale (ASRS-J) and its short scale in accordance with DSM-5 diagnostic criteria.
The six-item Japanese ADHD screener is reliable, valid, and free.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Takeda et al. (2017) translated the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale into Japanese. They call the new forms ASRS-J and ASRS-J-6.
They checked if the long and short forms give steady scores and spot ADHD correctly in Japanese adults.
What they found
Both forms passed the math tests for reliability and validity. The six-item ASRS-J-6 also flagged ADHD cases with good accuracy.
The tools are free and ready for clinics and research.
How this fits with other research
Yang et al. (2026) did the same job in Chinese. They found the Chinese GARS-3 screener hit 86–89 % accuracy, matching the positive picture for the Japanese ADHD tool.
Camodeca (2025) tried to shorten an autism parent scale. The short form showed good fit but poor real-world accuracy. The ADHD study succeeded where the autism one fell short, showing short forms can work if item choice is tight.
Adams et al. (2022) found the SRAS-R factor structure broke down in autistic children. Like that team, Toshinobu et al. checked factor structure, but their ADHD data held together, so no rebuild was needed.
Why it matters
If you screen Japanese-speaking adults for ADHD, use the six-item ASRS-J-6. It costs nothing, takes two minutes, and now has local evidence behind it. Keep the full 18-item version for deeper assessment when the short form raises a red flag.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
We developed the Japanese version of the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS-J) and report its psychometric properties. The ASRS-J and other questionnaires were administered to 48 adults with ADHD, 46 adults with non-ADHD psychiatric disorders, 96 non-clinical adults, and 894 university students. ADHD diagnoses were made using the Japanese semi-structured diagnostic interview for adult ADHD, which is compatible with the DSM-5. The ASRS-J, its subscales, and the short form, all had Cronbach's α values of around 0.80. Total scores on the ASRS-J and the ASRS-J-6 were highly correlated with readministration after a two-week interval. The total and 18 individual item scores in the ASRS-J were significantly higher in the ADHD group than the other three groups. ASRS-J scores were correlated with scores on the Japanese version of Conners' Adult ADHD Rating Scales-Self Report subscales (0.59≤r≤0.77), with one exception. ASRS-J scores were also correlated (albeit more weakly; r=0.38) with Beck Depression Inventory-II total scores. Employing optimal cut-offs, sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of the ASRS-J and ASRS-J-6 are all above 0.69. The ASRS-J and ASRS-J-6 showed acceptable psychometric properties, although further study is necessary.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2017 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2017.02.011