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Epidemiology of ADHD in Chilean children and adolescents

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ADHD Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorders

Abstract

ADHD prevalence, associated factors, comorbidity and service use are reported for a sample of 1,558 children and adolescents, belonging to four provinces in Chile. The sample is weighted in each step for selection bias. Psychiatric disorders and impairment are assessed with computerized in-home DISC-IV interviews, and a questionnaire regarding socioeconomic and family variables and service use. Estimates of prevalence rates are obtained by means of STATA 11.0 software, with complex sample design. Multivariate logistic regression is used to determine which factors were the best predictors for mental disorders. Participation rate is 82.4 %. The prevalence of ADHD is 10 %, and the most prevalent subtype is the hyperactive/impulsive, with no gender differences. Both hyperactive/impulsive and combined subtypes are more prevalent in children 4–11 than in adolescents. The most prevalent comorbidities are anxiety disorders and oppositional disorder. Anxiety is the more prevalent comorbid disorder in girls and correlated with a combined subtype. Perception of good family functioning, adolescent age and school dropout have a negative association with ADHD diagnosis, while maltreatment shows a positive correlation. Over 50 % of children and adolescents diagnosed with ADHD have used services in the last year. This is the first comprehensive community study of psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents in a South American country. It yields information for child and adolescent mental health programmes in Chile and contributes to cross-cultural epidemiological research.

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Acknowledgments

This research project has been funded by National Science and Technology Research (FONDECYT). Grant No 1070519.

Conflict of interest

The authors have no financial conflicts to declare.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. East Psychiatry Department, Medical Faculty, University of Chile, Camino San Antonio 18 Apt. 121, Las Condes, Santiago, Chile

    Flora Eloísa de la Barra

  2. Psychiatry Department, University of Concepción, Concepción, Chile

    Benjamin Vicente, Sandra Saldivia & Roberto Melipillan

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  1. Flora Eloísa de la Barra
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  2. Benjamin Vicente
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  3. Sandra Saldivia
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  4. Roberto Melipillan
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Correspondence to Flora Eloísa de la Barra.

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de la Barra, F.E., Vicente, B., Saldivia, S. et al. Epidemiology of ADHD in Chilean children and adolescents. ADHD Atten Def Hyp Disord 5, 1–8 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12402-012-0090-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12402-012-0090-6

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