How to Clinically Assess ADHD Using Both Objective and Subjective Data
Assessing for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) can be challenging. Not every person with ADHD displays all of the symptoms, nor does every person with ADHD experience symptoms to the same level of severity or impairment. Some people have mild ADHD, while others have severe ADHD, resulting in significant impairments.
There is no single medical, physical, or genetic test for ADHD. However, a diagnostic evaluation can be provided by gathering information from multiple sources. These include ADHD symptom checklists, standardized behaviour rating scales, a detailed history of past and current functioning, and information obtained from family members or significant others who know the person well. ADHD cannot be diagnosed accurately just from brief office observations, or just by talking to the person. The person may not always exhibit the symptoms of ADHD in the office, and the diagnostician needs to take a thorough history of the individual’s life. A diagnosis of ADHD must include consideration of the possible presence of co-occurring conditions.
ADHD is a lifespan condition that affects children, adolescents, and adults of all ages. Many clients with ADHD, both young and adult, feel deeply frustrated and embarrassed by the ongoing problems caused by their ADHD. It is very important that the person being evaluated discuss these problems openly and honestly, and not hold back information due to feelings of shame or fear of criticism. The quality of the evaluation, and the accuracy of the diagnosis and treatment recommendations, will be largely determined by the accuracy of the information provided to the examiner
In this training, Dr Bruce Cappo, Clinical Psychologist who specialises in assessment of complex childhood disorders, will provide a comprehensive ADHD assessment methodology. You will learn how to collect all the necessary data and information, and how to avoid the possible pitfalls in the process of providing a comprehensive ADHD assessment. You will look at various objective and subjective assessment tasks as well as strengths and weaknesses of each. The content will also systematically describe alternative diagnoses that may mimic ADHD symptoms. Various options in obtaining and analysing data in the diagnosis of ADHD will be discussed, including observation, clinical history, self-report, parent or other reports through rating scales, continuous performance tests and clinical interview. The inclusion of objective measures will be recommended and explained to yield a higher level of accuracy.
Learning Objectives:
This training will provide participants clinical knowledge and tools to:
a). Learn and understand how to comprehensively assess for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
b). Understand the various objective and subjective assessment tasks as well as strengths and weaknesses of each.
c). Understand and describe alternative diagnoses that may mimic ADHD symptoms.
Target Audience:
The target audience for this event includes psychologists, counselors, psychiatrists and other mental health professionals with an interest in ADHD assessment.
CPD Information For Mental Health Professionals
Enjoy complete flexibility with 100% self-paced learning you can access anytime, anywhere, and on any device. Pay once for lifetime access.
Course Duration: 3 learning hours
Certificate and CPD hours: On completion you’ll receive a Certificate of Completion to support your CPD records.
Assessment: Complete a short quiz at the end (80% pass mark), which you can resit as many times as needed.
Lifetime Access: Your access to the course does not expire, so you can revisit key concepts anytime you want a refresher for practice.
CPD Eligibility: This program may be suitable for CPD for professionals such as:
- Psychologists
- Counsellors and Psychotherapists
- Social Workers
- Community Workers
- Mental Health Nurses
- General Practitioners (GPs)
- Occupational Therapists
CPD requirements vary between professional bodies, so please check with your association or credentialing body to confirm you can claim CPD hours/OPD points for this program and what evidence they require.
Course Content
Meet Your Instructor
High-stakes psychological evaluations - where careers, freedom, and public safety hang in the balance - require a level of expertise that most clinicians never encounter. Bruce Cappo has spent over three decades mastering this specialised arena, becoming one of America’s leading forensic psychologists and police psychology specialists.
As a board-certified specialist in Police and Public Safety Psychology through the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP), Dr. Cappo founded Clinical Associates in 1992, building it into a multidisciplinary practice serving more than 85 professionals across Kansas and Missouri. His recognition as Fellow and Past-President of both the Kansas Psychological Association and Kansas Association of Professional Psychologists reflects his leadership in advancing psychological practice at the highest levels.
Dr. Cappo's expertise spans three critical areas: forensic evaluations and consultation, risk and public safety assessments, and complex diagnostic evaluations. He provides psychological evaluations for federal agencies including DEA, ICE, TSA, and Homeland Security, while serving as consultant to multiple police departments including Overland Park Police Department. His work extends to the most challenging cases - competency evaluations, fitness for duty assessments, sex offender evaluations, and mental status determinations for federal and state courts.
What sets his training apart is real-world application under pressure. Cappo doesn't just teach assessment theory - he shows clinicians how to conduct evaluations that withstand legal scrutiny, how to write reports that inform critical decisions, and how to testify effectively in court. His experience with the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, federal court systems, and high-security evaluations gives him insights that few practitioners possess.
For your practice, expect to gain specific skills in conducting forensic assessments, understanding the intersection of psychology and law, and developing the clinical judgment needed for high-stakes evaluations. His methods particularly benefit clinicians interested in forensic work, public safety psychology, or complex diagnostic cases.
Quick Win: Cappo's structured approach to fitness-for-duty evaluations helps clinicians distinguish between temporary stress responses and more serious psychological conditions that impact job performance - a distinction with major career and safety implications.
Qualifications
- Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, University of Kansas, 1987
- M.A., Clinical Psychology, University of Kansas, 1983
- B.A., Psychology (with distinction), University of Kansas, 1982
- APA-approved internship, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 1986–1987
- American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) Board Certified Specialist in Police and Public Safety Psychology, 2011
- Licensed Psychologist: Kansas, Missouri, Illinois
- National Register of Health Care Providers in Psychology
- Master Addiction Counselor (MAC) certified
Leadership & Recognition
- Fellow, Kansas Psychological Association
- Past-President, Kansas Psychological Association
- Past-President, Kansas Association of Professional Psychologists
- University of Minnesota Press Advisory Committee member (psychological assessment)
- Ad Hoc reviewer for multiple professional journals
Teaching & Roles
- Founder & Director, Clinical Associates, P.A., Lenexa, KS, 1992–present
- Owner, STAT Corporation, 1991–present
- Instructor, Abnormal Psychology, United States Penitentiary, Leavenworth, KS
- Instructor, General Psychology & Abnormal Psychology, Rockhurst University, Kansas City, MO
Ready to develop expertise in high-stakes psychological assessment? Discover how Dr. Cappo's forensic methods can elevate your clinical skills and expand your practice into specialised evaluation work.
Feedback & Reviews
This course includes:
- Lessons 3
- Topics 0
- Duration 3 hours
- Quizzes 1
- Language English