ADHD and mental health status in Brazilian school-age children.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the prevalence of ADHD, mental health status, and risk factors in a sample of Brazilian children.


METHODS
Target sample consisted of all children from 5 to 13 years registered in the public elementary school. Children with ADHD were compared with those without ADHD for sociodemographic, risk factors, and Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) symptom dimensions. Multivariate models estimated determinants of ADHD diagnosis.


RESULTS
Of the target sample, consents and complete information were obtained from 1,830 children (91.8%). The prevalence rate of ADHD was 5.1% (95% confidence interval [CI] = [4.2, 6.2]). In contrast to controls, children with ADHD presented higher levels of symptoms in the CBCL dimensions. In multivariate analyses, the diagnosis of ADHD was significantly influenced by maternal educational status (p = .019), income class (p = .012), and prenatal exposure to tobacco (p = .032).


CONCLUSIONS
Prevalence and demographic features of ADHD in Brazil are similar to what has been reported worldwide.
Glia Institute, Ribeirao Preto, SP, Brazil arruda@institutoglia.com.br.
Marco A
MA
Arruda
Department of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil National Institute of Developmental Psychiatry for Children and Adolescents (INCT-CNPq), São Paulo, Brazil.
Cícero Nardini
CN
Querido
Merck Investigator Studies Program and Scientific Education Group Office of the Chief Medical Officer-Merck, PA, USA Department of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA.
Marcelo E
ME
Bigal
Department of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil National Institute of Developmental Psychiatry for Children and Adolescents (INCT-CNPq), São Paulo, Brazil.
Guilherme V
GV
Polanczyk
D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012574:Schools; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*