Prevalence of comorbidities in children with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder at Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children, Sri Lanka

Abstract

Background: Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has a high prevalence and is frequently associated with comorbid illnesses.Objective: To assess the comorbid patterns, sociodemographic profiles, management patterns and outcomes amongst children with ADHD presenting to the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children. Method:Two hundred patients, aged 6-12 years, diagnosed with ADHD, were assessed for their demographic features and comorbidities based on DSM IV criteria. Results:Of the 200 children, 166 (83%) were male and 198 (99%) were schooling. While 108 (54%) had a single neuropsychiatric comorbidity, 30 (15%) had 2 comorbidities and 1 (0.5%) had 3 comorbidities. Specific developmental disorder of scholastic skills (SDDSS) was the most prevalent comorbidity and was seen in 90 (45%) patients. Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) was seen in 56 (28%) children and 17 (8.5%) had both SDDSS and ODD. In the sample, 90% of children were born of uneventful deliveries. Postnatal complications were found in 12% children. In the sample, 30% had a history of febrile fits and 2.5% had a history of afebrile fits. Conclusions:In this sample of 200 children with diagnosed ADHD, 139 (69.5%) had one or more neuropsychiatric comorbidities. SDDSS was the most prevalent comorbidity ___________________________________________

Effect of a visual tracking intervention on attention and behavior of attention deficit hyper activity children

“…Modifying anti-saccadic movements in children with ADHD influences their cognitive ability [ 49 ] and reduces symptoms of hyperactivity and response inhibition in these children. This effect is similar to the effects of methylphenidate.…”

Predictors of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Sri Lankan Children: A School Based Community Study

“…There is conspicuously scarce literature that has inquired in to this vital concept in developing countries where not only decisive customs, traditions, cultures, and practices but also health systems, policies and regulations differ considerably. In Sri Lanka, research with specific focus on ADHD was largely among clinical samples (Kariyawasam et al, 2009; Kotalawala et al, 2018; Wijetunge et al, 2015) until a recent most study established prevalence among a community sample of primary school children (Nazeer et al, 2021). Although risk factors for disruptive behavior disorders was assessed as a whole in a community sample, of which ADHD was only one component (Mallawarchchi et al, 2016), to our knowledge no studies have systematically examined predictors of this rather debilitating condition in Sri Lanka till date.…”

Prevalence of ADHD in Primary School Children, in Colombo District, Sri Lanka

“…Conversely, a Chinese study among 7 to 12 year olds found the commonest age as 9 years where the prevalence was 7.28% (Huang et al, 2017). Similarly the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2005) cited the highest prevalence of 9.7% (95% CI [9.1, 10.4]) in the 9 to 12 year age category from a community based sample, while a clinical sample from a local hospital in Sri Lanka reported that the majority (42%) of the 200 ADHD children from the child guidance clinic were represented by 6 to 7 year olds (Wijetunge et al, 2015).…”