Use of Multiple Informants to Identify Children at High Risk for ADHD in Turkish School-Age Children

Abstract

Statistically driven threshold on a symptom scale may overestimate the rate of high-risk children. Relying on one informant is likely to miss some children at high risk. As in clinical practice, therefore, data from multiple informants and evidence of impairment are essential for identifying ADHD.

Prevalence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity and other disruptive behaviour disorder symptoms among primary school-age children in Kayseri, Turkey

“…Differences in the reported prevalence of DBD symptoms in epidemiological studies may be the result of different information sources (e.g., parent or teacher-based, strict criteria), differences in sampling methods (stratified cluster sampling, school sampling, clinical evaluation) and different scales applied (e.g., ICD-10, DSM-IV) 3 In our study, the ADHD prevalence rate (6.2%) was similar to the pooled worldwide prevalence (5.29-5.79%) for children and adolescents. 9,4 At the same time, our findings are consistent with previous studies 24,29 conducted among elementary school children using parent based-estimates, which have reported ADHD prevalence between 2.7% and 9.6%. In another study performed in Malatya, Turkey among 3002 primary school children, the prevalence of ADHD was found to be 9.5%.…”

Is the prevalence of ADHD in Turkish elementary school children really high?

“…This finding reinforces previous data suggesting no increase in ADHD prevalence rates along the years when cases are adequately assessed in non-referred samples [12]. Our findings are not fully compatible with a previous study by Guler et al, which was also conducted in Turkish elementary school children [33]. That study reported the prevalence of ADHD was varied between 2.7 and 9.6 % for parent-based estimates, and between 2 and 10.1 % for teacher-based estimates.…”

An Open-Label Trial of Methylphenidate Treating Sluggish Cognitive Tempo, Inattention, and Hyperactivity/Impulsivity Symptoms Among 6- to 12-Year-Old ADHD Children: What Are the Predictors of Treatment Response at Home and School?

“…DSM-IV-based ADHD rating scales, like SNAP-IV, are widely used in child and adolescent psychiatry practice in Turkey. A Turkish validation study has not been published yet; however, the scale was used in a large community survey in Turkey (Güler et al, 2017) and the mean thresholds of items were similar to those obtained in the U.S. survey (Bussing et al, 2008). In our sample, the scale was completed by mothers, fathers, and teachers.…”