Prevalence of Psychiatric Disorders Among Turkish Children: The Effects of Impairment and Sociodemographic Correlates

Abstract

This study was designed to assess the prevalence of psychiatric disorders and the impact of impairment criteria on rates of diagnoses in a representative sample of elementary school children from a country in a region. We sampled 419 primary school children by using a one-stage design in Izmir, Turkey. The response rate was 99.5 % and 417 cases were assessed using the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children Present and Lifetime Version and a scale to assess the impairment criterion. The results showed that 36.7 % of the sample met DSM-IV criteria independent of impairment and that 14.1 % of the population had one or more DSM-IV disorders when a measure of impairment specific to each diagnosis was considered. The most prevalent disorders were attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and anxiety disorders. This study provided the first estimates of the prevalence of specific DSM-IV-defined psychiatric disorders in Turkish population of children.

The Effectiveness of Various Types of Psychological Correction of Anxiety in Primary School

“…In group II, it was seen in 5 scales (1, 3, 6, 7, 8; p < 0.05). In group III, significant improvements took place in 7 scales (1,2,5,6,7,9,10; p < 0.01-p < 0.05). The present study has shown the different efficacy of applying the remedial techniques separately and in combination.…”

“…Anxiety is known to be a predictor of depression [3]. It is also of importance that a somatic disease which began during the period of childhood and personality formation can contribute to the development of depression and suicidal manifestations [4,5], psychosomatic and anxiety neurotic disorders [6,7] which are considered the most common disorders all over the world among children and adolescents [8,9]. Of course, increased anxiety influences schoolchildren's voluntary attention, the amount of random access memory, the speed of perception, mental performance, and academic performance [10].…”

The prevalance of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and the frequency of medication use among preschool children in a district children hospital

“…Türkiye'de farklı illerde yapılan okul çağı çocuklarda DEHB prevalans çalışmalarında ise, %2-12,7 arasında değişen oranlarda DEHB sıklığı saptanmıştır (3)(4)(5) . Dünyada epidemiyolojik çalışmalar okul öncesi çocuklarda DEHB (OÖ-DEHB) yaygınlığını %2-7 arasında bildirmiştir (6)(7)(8) .…”

Examination of risk factors for dropout in a child and adolescent psychiatry outpatient clinic

“…[1][2][3][4] Almost up to three-quarters of child and adolescent patients either do not have access to treatment or terminate their treatment prematurely. [5][6][7][8][9] Helpseeking behavior and commitment to treatment is also problematic amongst the minors who are in need of support from mental health services.…”