title: Prevalence of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Students and Needs Modification of Mental Health Services in Shahrekord, Iran in 2013.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In view of the complications of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and significance of its treatment, the present study was aimed to investigate the prevalence of ADHD among elementary school students of Shahrekord and to assess the obstacles preventing patients from accessing mental health services.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional study, 631 eligible students were selected from elementary school students in Shahrekord County, Iran. Multi-stage stratified random sampling was adopted. Demographic data were gathered and Child Symptom Inventory-4 for parents and teachers was filled out for each student. The students with suspected ADHD were identified, and examined for the association among mental health help-seeking steps. Obstacles to mental health help-seeking were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ADHD prevalence was derived 17.3% and higher among male students (p=0.025). ADHD prevalence was associated with parents' education and occupation. The evaluation and diagnosis rates were significantly associated with gender (p=0.002 and 0.005, respectively). The most prevalent obstacles facing access to mental health services were those relevant to feeling no need (86%), negative expectations of treatment (78%) and mental health system (64%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ADHD was highly prevalent among elementary school students. Identifying the patients and examining the existing obstacles of access to mental health system seems necessary.
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences , Shahrekord, Iran .
authors.forename: Parvin
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Safavi
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of of Community Medicine, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences , Shahrekord, Iran .
authors.forename: Forouzan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ganji
authors.affiliation: Students Research Committee, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences , Shahrekord, Iran .
authors.forename: Atenasadat
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bidad
keywords: Child symptom inventory-4; Epidemiology; Frequency