Clinical characteristics of ADHD in Thai children.
OBJECTIVE
To study the clinical characteristics of children who were diagnosed as ADHD.


METHODS
A retrospective chart review was conducted on 202 children who came to a child mental health clinic and were diagnosed as ADHD.


RESULTS
Most cases were in the 6-12 years age group and came from small families with 1-2 children. Males outnumbered females (M:F = 3.4:1). One-fifth of the sample received previous psychiatric evaluation from other health professionals but parents needed 'second opinion'. The most frequent chief complaints were academic/learning problems. Almost one-fourth of the samples came for problems not directly related to ADHD. In this group the most frequent complaints were aggressive and oppositional behavior Comorbidity was found in 53.5%. More than half of the cases who took intelligence tests had an IQ below 90. Behavioral management was the only treatment modality in 38% of the sample. In 62% stimulants were instituted either at the beginning of treatment or as an "add-on" after behavioral management proved to be insufficient. Among cases that received stimulants, 28% needed the combination of other psychotropic medications, mostly antidepressant and anxiolytic drugs.


CONCLUSIONS
A study of the clinical characteristics of ADHD in Thai children revealed male preponderance and high rates of non-ADHD presentations and comorbid conditions. Awareness of varied presentations of ADHD and proper treatment of comorbid conditions is imperative in the comprehensive care of ADHD children.
Trangkasombat
Umaporn
U
Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand. familyinthai@yahoo.com
D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D008603:Mental Health; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011594:Psychometrics; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors
D011619:Psychotropic Drugs