Prevalence and diagnostic stability of ADHD and ODD in Turkish children: a 4-year longitudinal study

Abstract

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.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and other disruptive behavior disorders are risk factors for recurrent epistaxis in children: A prospective case-controlled study

“…Our results demonstrated that the prevalence of ADHD in the control group was not different than the recent epidemiological data of Turkey 13 .…”

Prevalence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in Northern Cyprus

“…Although this rate is markedly higher than the 5.9% reported by a worldwide meta-analysis of ADHD prevalence, 14 it is within the range that has been reported for ADHD prevalence 9 as well as that of epidemiological studies conducted in Turkey, 21,30 and Chile. 31 Although no similar studies have been reported from the TRNC to date, our methodology and results are in close agreement with studies of Turkish children from Turkey, such as the epidemiological study reported by Ercan et al 30 from the İzmir province of Turkey, which used a very similar method-logy and reported a prevalence of 13.6%. Two other epidemiological studies, one by Ercan et al 21 another by Rowland et al 9 reported highly similar results to ours, 12.7% and 12.9% respecttively.…”

Is the prevalence of ADHD in Turkish elementary school children really high?

“…The case was considered to be impaired if he/she was rated as very problematic in at least one area or a little problematic in two or more areas. Similar approaches were previously used in epidemiologic studies [14,31,32].…”

“…Recently, our group conducted a developmental epidemiology study to fill this gap in the literature [14]. This study was a 4-year longitudinal investigation on the ADHD and ODD prevalence rates conducted in Turkey which is an interesting geographical area standing on the intersection of Europe, Asia, and Middle East.…”

“…These results may raise the question ''whether ADHD is more prevalent in Turkish children than in some other parts of the world?'' Considering the migratory origin of Turkish people and the relation between migration and DRD4 gene (one of the most important candidate genes in ADHD etiology), this hypothesis is worth to be investigated [14,18].…”