Bridging the Gap in ADHD Assessment in the MENA Region: The Arabic CAT-A Validation Study

Adult ADHD is increasingly recognized in the MENA region, but assessment remains inconsistent due to the lack of standardized, psychometrically validated Arabic diagnostic tools. This gap has clinical and ethical consequences in Muslim communities, where executive-function difficulties can be misread as moral or religious failure, intensifying guilt and stigma around prayer regularity, attentional presence (khushūʿ), fasting, and consistent religious routines. Islamic ethics links accountability (taklīf) to capacity (qudrah) and lifts undue hardship (ḥaraj) through mercy (raḥmah) and justice (ʿadl); without proper diagnosis, responsibility may be wrongly attributed. Currently, the Arabic ASRS is the only validated screening tool, and there are no validated Arabic diagnostic self-report instruments for adult ADHD. This project will translate, culturally adapt, and validate a Modern Standard Arabic version of the CAT-A in Qatar, using established cross-cultural methods and a ~600-person sample. Psychometric testing will assess reliability and multiple forms of validity, with ethical oversight aligned with HBKU IRB and Islamic principles. The outcome supports accurate diagnosis, reduces unjust moral burden, and promotes compassionate, culturally grounded care.

Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU)