Abstract

Aims & Objectives: (1) To find out the prevalence of ADHD in urban primary school children (2)To find out the presence of any co-morbid disorders associated with ADHD. Settings and design: This is a cross sectional study of school children selected from 15 different Govt. Schools nearby Govt. Royapettah Hospital, attached to Govt. Kilpauk medical college, Chennai. Material & Methods: 1000 children aged between 5 and 11 years were randomly selected from 15 different schools in Chennai. The presence of ADHD was then assessed by using Vanderbilt assessment scale Teacher’s version by their class teachers. Those children screened positive were verified and reassessed for the presence of any comorbid factors by using Child Behavioural Checklist (CBCL) scale. All children screened positive were subjected to psychiatrist evaluation. Results: The prevalence of ADHD among urban primary school children in Chennai, Tamilnadu was found to be 9.67%. Poor academic performance was the most common associated comorbid condition (18.75%), followed by poor social behaviour (17.7%). Conclusion: The present study shows Poor academic performance was the most common associated comorbid conditions, followed by poor social behaviour.

Highlights

  • ADHD is characterised by a pattern of diminished sustained attention, hyperactivity and higher level of impulsivity in a child or adolescent which are not appropriate for someone of that age and development

  • Among 1000 school children screened 120 children were positive; i.e [12%] of the screened. 96 of these positively screened children were confirmed by the psychiatrist to have ADHD (Table I)

  • The prevalence of ADHD is more in children from lower socioeconomic group 11% compared to middle socioeconomic group (Table IV)

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Summary

Introduction

ADHD is characterised by a pattern of diminished sustained attention, hyperactivity and higher level of impulsivity in a child or adolescent which are not appropriate for someone of that age and development. The abnormality of the symptoms must be statistically inappropriate for the child's age, developmental level and duration of the symptoms must be present for at least six months [1]. Thought it is childhood disorder it may continue into adulthood [2]. Venkata J A et al [1] in 2013 screened 770 primary school children aged 6 to 11years at Coimbatore, prevalence of ADHD was found to be 11.32% with higher prevalence among males [66.7%] compared to females [33.3%]. Compared with non-ADHD peers, ADHD affected persons are at greater risk for substance abuse

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