title: Co-morbidity and treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in Saudi Arabia.
abstract: To review the experience of a child psychiatric clinic regarding co-morbidity and treatment characteristics of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a retrospective study was done on patients under 19 years who were attending the clinic and were diagnosed with ADHD. Co-morbidity and treatment characteristics were also studied. ADHD was diagnosed in 25.5% of the patients. Of these, 28.3% had coexistent expressive language disorder and 38.7% coexistent mild mental retardation. A psychostimulant (methylphenidate) was prescribed to 23.6% while antidepressants (primarily imipramine) were prescribed to 35.9%. Behavioural therapy was the most commonly offered psychotherapy. Antidepressants were used more than psychostimulants. Psychotropics had a more beneficial effect than psychotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Al-Haidar
mesh_terms: D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002665:Child Psychiatry / Q000379:methods; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D015897:Comorbidity; D005196:Family Therapy; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007099:Imipramine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D007806:Language Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D015995:Prevalence; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D017678:Sex Distribution; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D008774:Methylphenidate; D007099:Imipramine