Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) affects up to 5% of the school-aged children and adolescents, and to up 3% of the adults. The condition is dramatically more frequent in parents of affected children (about 30% of prevalence), therefore crediting the genetic transmission of the disorder.

Our study was designed to increase the awareness of the disorder among teachers and parents, and to collect data for validating available rating scales for the French general population.

To include up to 200 children for each year of age ranging for 5 to 18, and to collect data about their behaviour at school (rated by teachers) and at home (rated by parents). Additionally, questionnaires were filled out by the parents to rate their own symptoms. Comorbidity and related disorders were also a concern.

A sample of schools was randomly selected in the city of Nice (France) and up to 4 children were randomly selected in each class. The children were included only after they and their parents gave their informed consent. Teachers rated the child behaviour on a secured website. Paper questionnaires were scanned for optical recognition.

In three months, 715 children were included and 847 parents returned their questionnaires. Preliminary analyses show that ADHD rating scales can be accurately scored by teachers and parents. References intervals need to be computed with regard of age and gender, for both children and adults.

The ChiP-ARD study will be reconducted in 2010-2011 to reach our original objective of 2600 children.