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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology

Published in:

01-07-2015 | Original Paper

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

Authors: Eyup Sabri Ercan, Öznur Bilaç, Taciser Uysal Özaslan, Luis Augusto Rohde

Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology | Issue 7/2015

Abstract

Purpose

Previous findings in Turkish samples of children have suggested higher prevalence of ADHD than those detected in Western cultures. Methodological problems might explain these findings. Here, we aimed to re-check the prevalence rate of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) along with other childhood psychiatric disorders in a representative school sample of elementary school children in İzmir, Turkey.

Method

The sample consisted of 419 randomly selected primary school children aged 6–14-year-old. We were able to interview 417 cases (99.5 % of the sample). Psychiatric diagnoses in children were assessed using the K-SADS-PL (Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children- Present and Lifetime Version) and an impairment criterion scale.

Results

The prevalence rates of ADHD were 21.8 and 12.7 % in children without and with impairment, respectively. The following major mental disorders were significantly more prevalent in ADHD cases than controls: oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) (9.4 versus 0 %), conduct disorder (15.1 versus 0 %), anxiety (17 versus 0.5 %), and mood (5.7 versus 0.8 %).

Conclusions

Our results confirmed a substantially higher ADHD prevalence rate (more than double) than the suggested pooled worldwide prevalence, although similar to the one recently detected in a representative populational sample of children in the US (11 %). These findings, consistent with previous developmental epidemiology studies from Turkey, confirm that ADHD is highly prevalent in Turkish elementary school children.

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Title: Is the prevalence of ADHD in Turkish elementary school children really high?
Authors: Eyup Sabri Ercan
Öznur Bilaç
Taciser Uysal Özaslan
Luis Augusto Rohde
Publication date: 01-07-2015
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology / Issue 7/2015
Print ISSN: 0933-7954
Electronic ISSN: 1433-9285
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-015-1071-9

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

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

Abstract

Purpose

Method

Results

Conclusions

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Method

Results

Conclusions

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