• Omitted Items for the Negative Impression Index
• Omitted Items for the Inconsistency Index
• Omitted Items for the DSM Symptom Counts

The Conners ADHD Rating Scale 2nd Edition (CAARS™ 2) results may be less accurate if responses are missing. If the allowable number of omitted responses has been exceeded for a given scale (see Table B.1), the scale cannot be scored and is displayed as “?” in the reports. This question mark indicates that the scale cannot be scored due to too many omitted responses. Some scales can be prorated if the maximum number of allowable omissions has not been exceeded, including the following scales: Content Scales, DSM Symptom Scales (T-scores only), and the CAARS™ 2–ADHD Index. Raw scores for these scales are prorated with the following formula:

For example, a rater obtained a raw score of 10, but answered only 5 out of 6 items on a particular scale. The score may be prorated by multiplying the obtained raw score of 10 by the number of items (6) on the full scale (10 × 6 = 60). The obtained result is then divided by the number of completed items on the scale (5) to get the prorated raw score of 12 (60 ÷ 5). The prorated raw score accounts for the missing items and adjusts the total raw score based on how the rater answered the other items on the scale. Prorating is automatically implemented where applicable.

Omissions are handled differently for the Negative Impression Index, the Inconsistency Index, and the DSM Symptom Counts. These will be discussed in detail in subsequent sections.

Omitted Items for the Negative Impression Index

The Negative Impression Index cannot be prorated. When Negative Impression Index item responses are missing, the following rules are applied in order:

1. If the raw score (based on the items that were rated) is equal to, or higher than, the cut-off (for values, see Table 4.1 in chapter 4, Interpretation), then the status of “Warrants follow up” is provided, regardless of how many items have been omitted (see Example 1 in Table B.2).
   
   
2. If the raw score (based on the items that were rated) plus the number of missing items multiplied by three is lower than the minimum cut-off, then the status of “Within the expected range” is provided (see Example 2 in Table B.2).
   
   
3. If neither of the above two conditions is met, then the status of the Negative Impression Index is “Could not be scored due to omitted item(s)” (see Example 3 in Table B.2).
   
   

Omitted Items for the Inconsistency Index

When Inconsistency Index item responses are missing, the following rules are applied, in order:

1. If the raw score (based on the item pairs that were rated) is equal to, or higher than, the cut-off (for values, see Table 4.2 in chapter 4, Interpretation), then the status of “Warrants follow-up” is provided, regardless of how many item pairs have been omitted (see Example 1 in Table B.3).
   
   
2. If the raw score (based on the item pairs that were rated) plus the number of missing items multiplied by three is lower than the minimum cut-off, then the status of “Within the expected range” is provided (see Example 2 in Table B.3).
   
   
3. If neither of the above two conditions is met, then the status of the Inconsistency Index is “Could not be scored due to omitted item(s)” (see Example 3 in Table B.3).
   
   

Omitted Items for the DSM Symptom Counts

The DSM Symptom Counts cannot be prorated in the same manner as raw scores. When item responses are omitted, one needs to determine if the symptom criteria outlined by the DSM are affected. In other words, if a single CAARS 2 item represents a DSM symptom, then the omission of the item means the symptom cannot be scored. Likewise, if a pair of CAARS 2 items are both required to be present to assess a possible DSM symptom (i.e., “AND” criterion), then the omission of either item means the symptom cannot be scored. In contrast, when either of two CAARS 2 items can be used to represent a DSM symptom (i.e., “OR” criterion), then the omission of either item would permit partial consideration of the symptom. (See appendix G for details about how CAARS 2 items map onto DSM symptom criteria). The following rules are applied when Symptom Count items are missing:

1. If the omitted item(s) impacts one of the DSM symptoms, the Symptom Count will be provided, with a note that the Symptom Count may be an underestimation because the rater did not respond to all of the symptom criteria (see Example 1 in Table B.4).
   
   
2. If the omitted items impact more than one of the DSM symptoms, there are two possible scenarios:
   
   
   1. If the Symptom Count is below the DSM symptom count requirement, then the Symptom Count cannot be provided for the scale, and instead, it is marked as “?” on digital reports to indicate that it cannot be scored due to too many omitted responses (see Example 2 in Table B.4).
      
      
   2. If the Symptom Count is at or above the DSM symptom count requirement, then the Symptom Count will be provided; however, a note will indicate that the obtained Symptom Count may be an underestimation of the actual Symptom Count because the rater did not respond to all the symptom criteria (see Example 3 in Table B.4).