Prevalence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in a community sample of older adolescents.
OBJECTIVE
To study the prevalence and correlates of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in a community sample of older adolescents.


METHODS
From 1986 to 1988, 3,419 seventh, eighth, and ninth graders were screened with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale. The top decile scorers and a random sample of the remainder were interviewed with the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children. These data are from the second wave of interviews (N = 490, mean age = 18.65).


RESULTS
The weighted prevalence of DSM-III-R ADHD was 1.51% (males: 2.62%, females: 0.54%). Significant associations (p < .05) were found for gender (male), comorbid affective disorders, baseline undesirable life events, and fewer than two biological parents at baseline. Family cohesion (p = .058) is inversely associated with ADHD. For subjects not meeting the age-at-onset criterion, 1.94% met the eight symptom criteria, and females (3.2%) were more prevalent than males (0.3%).


CONCLUSIONS
ADHD remains a problem in this sample of older adolescents and is often comorbid with affective disorders. A significant number report eight ADHD symptoms but do not meet the age-at-onset criterion. This group deserves research attention.
Cuffe
S P
SP
Department of Neuropsychiatry and Behavioral Science, University of South Carolina, Columbia, USA. spc45@wshpi.dmh.state.sc.us
McKeown
R E
RE
Jackson
K L
KL
Addy
C L
CL
Abramson
R
R
Garrison
C Z
CZ
D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors