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It is feasible to deliver an educational intervention addressing teacher identification of ADHD in routine practice. This was associated with an improvement in the ability of teachers to more accurately identify children at risk of ADHD. The provision of a brief educational intervention for teachers could assist in improving the identification of undiagnosed children with ADHD in the community.

Background: Paediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) often goes undetected, delaying access to evidence-based treatment. This study aimed to assess the utility of a computerised diagnostic tool, the Development and Well-Being Assessment (DAWBA), in detecting OCD and comorbidity in youth. Method: A total of 51 young people referred to a specialist OCD service between September 2007 and July 2008 completed the DAWBA prior to clinical assessment. Computer-rated and clinician-rated DAWBA diagnoses were compared with those assigned by the specialist clinic. Results: The computer-rated and clinician-rated DAWBA correctly classified OCD in 71% and 77% of cases respectively. Compared to consensus diagnoses, the computer-rated DAWBA tended to over-diagnose comorbidity, while the clinician-rated DAWBA diagnoses of comorbidity corresponded well with the consensus. Conclusions: The DAWBA has potential value in detecting OCD as well as comorbid disorders, and could be a cost-effective method for diagnosing OCD and related problems. Key Practitioner Message:• The current study represents the first investigation into the utility of the DAWBA in detecting OCD and comorbid disorders in young people• Even among a group of young people with complex and unusual OCD, the clinician-rated DAWBA correctly classified 77% of cases• A positive diagnosis of OCD on the DAWBA has high accuracy. A negative diagnosis of OCD may be less accurate and therefore OCD should not be ruled out on this basis alone• The clinician-rated DAWBA may be helpful in highlighting when comorbid conditions are present.Computer ratings alone may produce a high number of false positives, particularly of other anxiety disorders and externalising disorders

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