title: Prevalence of DSM-IV TR Psychiatric Disorders in Children and Adolescents of Paveh, a Western City of Iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Epidemiology, the study of patterns of disease distribution in time and space, can help to improve mental health services for children and adolescents by increasing understanding of causes, development, and course of psychiatric disorders.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the prevalence of DSM-IV TR psychiatric disorders and comorbidities in students of Paveh, one of the western cities in Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  The participants of this cross sectional survey were 379 children and adolescents aged 6-18 years old that were selected by multistage cluster sampling method. They were screened in the first phase of the study by two screening tools. In the second phase, 141 students were assessed by K-SADS-PL psychiatric interview.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall prevalence of DSM-IV TR disorders in this population according to psychiatric interview was 24.4%. The most common disorder was attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (11.9%) and then generalized anxiety disorder (11.3%), social phobia (6.2%), and separation anxiety disorder (6.2%). There was no significant difference between two sex and age groups except enuresis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of psychiatric disorders in Paveh is comparable to other areas of Iran and the world. The high prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder needs more consideration and treatment plans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Razi Hospital, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Nasrin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dodangi
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Razi Hospital, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Nastaran
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Habibi Ashtiani
authors.affiliation: Health Center, Culham Construction Company, Paveh, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Burhanoddin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Valadbeigi
keywords: Adolescent; Child; Prevalence