Teacher reports of DSM-IV ADHD, ODD, and CD symptoms in schoolchildren.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the prevalence of DSM-IV symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), oppositional defiant disorder, and conduct disorder and age, gender, and comorbidity differences between ADHD subtypes.


METHODS
Teachers completed a DSM-IV-referenced symptom inventory for 3,006 schoolchildren aged between 3 and 18 years.


RESULTS
The screening prevalence rate of ADHD behaviors was 15.8%; rates for individual subtypes were 9.9% for inattentive, 2.4% for hyperactive-impulsive, and 3.6% for combined. The inattentive type was relatively uncommon in preschool children (3.9%), whereas the hyperactive-impulsive type was least common in teenagers (0.8%). Screening prevalence rates were higher for African-American (39.5%) than white (14.2%) students, but did not vary significantly (p < .05) as a function of geographic region or socioeconomic status. ADHD subtypes were rated as more impaired than the non-ADHD group on most measures and were easily differentiated on the basis of comorbid symptoms, social skills impairment, and special education services.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings of this and similar studies show relatively high convergence for the prevalence of ADHD behaviors and differences between ADHD subtypes.
Nolan
E E
EE
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, State University of New York, Stony Brook, USA.
Gadow
K D
KD
Sprafkin
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019958:Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D019955:Conduct Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009518:New York / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors