Conners Adult ADHD Rating Scales (CAARS and CAARS 2)
Short answer
The Conners Adult ADHD Rating Scales are licensed questionnaires for adults 18 and older, published by MHS. The current edition, CAARS 2, has self-report and observer forms in full, short and index versions. MHS describes it as a tool used with other verified information to aid diagnosis and monitoring. It is purchased and interpreted by qualified professionals.
If a psychologist or psychiatrist has mentioned "the Conners," they may mean one of several related scales. For adults, the name usually refers to the Conners Adult ADHD Rating Scales, known as the CAARS. A second edition, the CAARS 2, replaced the original.
- Authors
- C. Keith Conners, Drew Erhardt and Elizabeth P. Sparrow
- Publisher
- Multi-Health Systems (MHS)
- Ages
- Adults 18 and older
- Raters
- Self-report and observer
- Delivery
- Online, or printed forms scored online
- Purchase
- Restricted to qualified professionals (MHS qualification level B)
Two points of view: you and someone who knows you
One feature that sets the CAARS family apart from a short screener is the observer form. You rate yourself, and someone who sees you in daily life, such as a partner, close friend or relative, rates you too. Seeing both side by side helps a clinician notice where your view and theirs agree and where they differ.
What MHS says it is for
Put together, those two statements describe the CAARS well. It is a structured way to collect symptom information from more than one person, and its scores are compared with reference groups. It is one input. The diagnosis still comes from a clinician who has also taken a history and considered other explanations.
Who gives it, and why you cannot just download it
The CAARS 2 is a commercial, licensed instrument. MHS sells it to professionals who meet its qualification requirements, and scoring happens through its own platform. A clinic, practice or researcher pays for each use. That is a very different arrangement from a free public screener, and it is one reason you will not find the official forms on a general website.
What it does not do
- It does not diagnose ADHD by itself, as both the publisher and NICE make clear.
- It does not replace questions about childhood, medical history or other conditions.
- It does not tell you anything useful if scored outside the publisher's system, so unofficial copies are best avoided.
How it compares with the ASRS v1.1 screener here
The free ASRS v1.1 screener on ADHDFalcon is six questions long, self-report only, and gives one of two official outcomes. It is meant to help you decide whether a fuller evaluation is worth pursuing. The CAARS 2 is a longer, licensed rating scale that a clinician may use during that evaluation, with an observer form and reference-group scoring. They serve different stages, and this page does not claim one is better.
If your clinician asks a partner or family member to complete an observer form, it can help to talk beforehand about why. The goal is not to catch anyone out but to see daily life from two angles.
- Who sees me most days and could describe my habits fairly?
- Where might their view of my attention and organization differ from mine?
A starting point for your next step.
Before any formal rating scale, the free six-question ASRS v1.1 screener can help you decide whether to book an evaluation.Frequently asked questions
Can I take the Conners adult scale online for free?
Not the official version. The CAARS 2 is sold by MHS to qualified professionals and scored on its platform. Your clinician arranges it if they want to use it.
What is the observer form?
A version completed by someone who knows you well, such as a partner or relative. It gives the clinician a second view of your daily life alongside your own self-report.
Does a high CAARS result confirm ADHD?
No. MHS describes it as a tool used with other verified information, and NICE says a diagnosis should not rest on rating scales alone. A clinician weighs it with your history and other factors.
Sources
Source check: 2026-10-28. No medical review has occurred.
- Multi-Health Systems (MHS), "CAARS 2: Conners Adult ADHD Rating Scales 2nd Edition" (C. Keith Conners, Drew Erhardt, Elizabeth P. Sparrow), publisher product page
- NICE guideline NG87, Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: diagnosis and management
Published 2026-10-28. Factual source check: ADHDFalcon editorial team, factual source check, 2026-10-28. No medical review has occurred.