The development of the SGI-16: a shortened sensory gating deficit and distractibility questionnaire for adults with ADHD

Atten Defic Hyperact Disord. 2017 Sep;9(3):179-187. doi: 10.1007/s12402-016-0215-4. Epub 2016 Dec 30.

Abstract

The Sensory Gating Inventory (SGI) is a questionnaire composed of 36 items designed to investigate abnormal perception related to the inability to control sensitivity to sensory stimuli frequently reported in adult with ADHD. This questionnaire can be considered too lengthy to be taken by people with ADHD, and a shortened version is needed. One hundred and sixty-three adults with ADHD responded to the SGI-36. An item reduction process took into account both the results of statistical analyses and the expertise of a steering committee. Construct validity, reliability, and external validity were tested for a short version (16 items). The structure of the SGI-16 was confirmed by principal components factor analysis. Cronbach's alpha coefficients ranged from 0.78 to 0.89. The SGI-16 dimension scores were highly correlated with their respective SGI-36 dimension scores. The SGI-16 seems to be both appropriate and useful for use in clinical practice to investigate perceptual abnormalities in adults with ADHD.

Keywords: ADHD; Adult; Perceptual abnormalities; Self-administered questionnaire; Sensory gating.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / complications
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / diagnosis*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Perceptual Disorders / complications
  • Perceptual Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Psychometrics
  • Sensory Gating*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires*
  • Young Adult