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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology 3/2008

01-03-2008 | ORIGINAL PAPER

The prevalence of DSM-IV psychiatric disorders among 7–10 year old Yemeni schoolchildren

Authors: Abdullah Alyahri, Robert Goodman

Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology | Issue 3/2008

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Abstract

Background

The planning of child mental health services should be based on recent high-quality data on the prevalence and type of mental health disorders, and yet such data are not available in Yemen and many other Arab countries.

Methods

Representative samples of Yemeni 7–10 year olds (n = 1,210) were assessed using a two-phase design in an urban area and a one-phase design in a rural area. Psychopathology was assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire for screening purposes and the Development and Well-being Assessment to generate psychiatric diagnoses.

Results

The overall prevalence of DSM-IV disorders was 15.7% in Yemen (95% CI 11.7–20.2%). Anxiety disorders were the commonest diagnostic grouping in Yemen (9.3%, 95% CI = 5.8–12.8%), followed by behavioural disorders (7.1%, 95% CI = 4.4–9.9%) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD; 1.3%, 95% CI = 0.1–2.5%). There were no significant urban-rural differences.

Conclusions

Roughly a sixth of Yemeni schoolchildren have at least one DSM-IV psychiatric disorder, involving a level of distress or social impairment likely to warrant treatment.
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Metadata
Title
The prevalence of DSM-IV psychiatric disorders among 7–10 year old Yemeni schoolchildren
Authors
Abdullah Alyahri
Robert Goodman
Publication date
01-03-2008
Publisher
D. Steinkopff-Verlag
Published in
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology / Issue 3/2008
Print ISSN: 0933-7954
Electronic ISSN: 1433-9285
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-007-0293-x

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