BackgroundThis study was designed to assess the prevalence of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) in a representative sample of second grade students from a country in a region where no previous rates are available (Turkey). The second aim is to evaluate the differences in ADHD and ODD prevalence rates among four different waves with one-year gap in reassessments.MethodSixteen schools were randomly selected and stratified according to socioeconomic classes. The DSM-IV Disruptive Behavior Disorders Rating Scale (T-DSM-IV-S) was delivered to parents and teachers for screening in around 1500 children. Screen positive cases and matched controls were extensively assessed using the K-SADS-PL and a scale to assess impairment criterion. The sample was reassessed in the second, third and fourth waves with the same methodology.ResultsThe prevalence rates of ADHD in the four waves were respectively 13.38%, 12.53%, 12.22% and 12.91%. The ODD prevalence was found to be 3.77% in the first wave, 0.96% in the second, 5.41% in the third and 5.35% in the fourth wave. Mean ODD prevalence was found to be 3.87%.ConclusionsThe prevalence rates of ADHD in the four waves were remarkably higher than the worldwide pooled childhood prevalence. ADHD diagnosis was quite stable in reassessments after one, two and three years. A mean ODD prevalence consistent with the worldwide-pooled prevalence was found; but diagnostic stability was much lower compared to ADHD.
This study was designed to assess the prevalence of psychiatric disorders and the impact of impairment criteria on rates of diagnoses in a representative sample of elementary school children from a country in a region. We sampled 419 primary school children by using a one-stage design in Izmir, Turkey. The response rate was 99.5 % and 417 cases were assessed using the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children Present and Lifetime Version and a scale to assess the impairment criterion. The results showed that 36.7 % of the sample met DSM-IV criteria independent of impairment and that 14.1 % of the population had one or more DSM-IV disorders when a measure of impairment specific to each diagnosis was considered. The most prevalent disorders were attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and anxiety disorders. This study provided the first estimates of the prevalence of specific DSM-IV-defined psychiatric disorders in Turkish population of children.
These findings provide valuable information about the comorbid disorders in children and adolescents with a very large clinical sample of ADHD children.
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