Prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in schoolchildren in the city of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

Abstract

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common neuropsychiatric disorder of infancy and one of the most prevalent chronic diseases found in schoolchildren. To evaluate the prevalence of ADHD in schoolchildren through the use of a questionnaire responded by school-teachers. A total of 774 children enrolled in the public and private school systems were evaluated. The diagnostic instrument used was a Teacher ADHD scale. Results showed that 6.7% of children were considered highly likely to have the disorder. Of the more severe cases of ADHD, the hyperactive-impulsive subtype was more frequently identified in girls, while the inattentive subtype was more prevalent among boys. The symptoms of attention deficit in hyperactive children may be underestimated by teachers since the symptoms of hyperactivity are more noticeable and disruptive.