Why I'm Switching to the Conners CPT 3 for ADHD Testing
If you've been through an evaluation with me before, you may remember QbTest as part of the process. The biggest feedback I received was that the test was too long. Starting this month, I'm transitioning to the slightly shorter, but still as (or maybe even more) widely used, Conners Continuous Performance Test, 3rd Edition (CCPT-3) as my objective testing measure. Here's what that means and why I made the change.
What a CPT actually does
A continuous performance test asks a patient to respond to a repetitive stream of stimuli on a screen for 15 to 20 minutes, tracking reaction time, missed responses, and impulsive responses along the way. It's not a standalone diagnostic tool for anyone. The research is consistent on this point: no CPT on the market, including QbTest, CCPT-3, TOVA, or MOXO, is accurate enough to diagnose ADHD by itself. What these tests are good for is adding an objective data point alongside a full clinical interview and validated rating scales, which is exactly how I've always used them and will continue to use CCPT-3.
Why CCPT-3
CCPT-3 is the most widely used and longest-validated CPT available, with a large adult normative dataset behind it. In its published validation research, it correctly classifies the large majority of adult cases when scored on its own, and accuracy improves further when combined with a self-report symptom scale like the ASRS-v1.1, which is part of my standard intake process already. That combined approach, an objective performance measure plus a validated rating scale plus a full clinical history, is what the broader research literature consistently points to as the most reliable path to an accurate diagnosis. It's also a shorter test for patients, at 14 minutes instead of 20 (the biggest complaint I recevied was that the test was too long).
What stays the same for you
Your evaluation experience won't change in any way that matters day to day. You'll still complete your symptom log, your intake paperwork, and a 60-minute in-person appointment with me, with same-day treatment planning. The only difference is which stimuli (red/blue circles or squares for QbTech or black letters in CCPT-3) you'll be looking at during the objective testing portion.
As always, no single test, old or new, replaces the clinical judgment that goes into an ADHD diagnosis. CCPT-3 gives me one more well-validated piece of that picture and the test is about 6 minutes shorter! Most importantly, this decision was based on responses from my patients and review of published clinical literature.
Reference:
Tan, Y. L., Ma, G., McIntyre, R. S., Teopiz, K., Dri, C. E., Chiang, S.-K., Zhou, D., Hao, F., Li, Z., Zhang, Z., Chai, B. C., & Ho, R. C. (2026). The clinical utility of the objective measures for diagnosing and monitoring attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults: A systematic review. Psychiatry International, 7(1), 1. https://doi.org/10.3390/psychiatryint7010001