[Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder prevalence in an inner city elementary school].
OBJECTIVE
To define the prevalence of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in a sample school-aged children from a public elementary school.


METHODS
The study population was composed of all pupils who attended the first five grades at a public state school. During the first stage, school teachers and parents filled a standardized questionnaire of 18 ADHD symptoms defined at DSM-IV. In the second stage, children who screened positive and their parents were invited for a medical visit at school. After signature of an informed consent, the following procedures were done: DSM-IV symptoms questionnaire, oriented history, physical exam and neurologic exam. ADHD diagnosis was subdivided into three types: predominantly hyperactive (H), predominantly inattentive (ADD), and mixed type ADD + H.


RESULTS
Among 403 pupils recruited in the first stage, 108 screened positive. Of these, 101 were assessed. There were 68 boys and 33 girls. Median age was 9 years (Range, 6-15 years; standard deviation, 1.99). ADHD diagnosis was defined for 69 pupils (17.1%), including 27 children (39.1%) with ADD, 26 children (37.7%) with ADD + H, and 16 children (23.2%) with H without ADD. Among children who received a diagnosis of ADHD, 45 (65.2%) were boys and 24 (34.8%) were girls (ratio 1.9:1).


CONCLUSIONS
ADHD prevalence in a sample of 403 school-aged children from a public elementary school was 17.1%.
Vasconcelos
Marcio M
MM
Hospital Universitário Antônio Pedro, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ, Brasil. mmvascon@centroin.com.br
Werner
Jairo
J
Malheiros
Ana Flávia de Araújo
AF
Lima
Daniel Fampa Negreiros
DF
Santos
Italo Souza Oliveira
IS
Barbosa
Jane Bardawil
JB
D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012574:Schools / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
Prevalência do transtorno de déficit de atenção/hiperatividade numa escola pública primária.