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Prevalence of severe ADHD: an epidemiological study in the Italian regions of Tuscany and Latium

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 September 2014

R. Donfrancesco ,
A. Marano ,
D. Calderoni ,
D. Mugnaini ,
F. Thomas ,
M. Di Trani ,
M. Innocenzi  and
B. Vitiello
R. Donfrancesco*
Affiliation:
Sandro Pertini Hospital, Roma, Italy
A. Marano
Affiliation:
Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
D. Calderoni
Affiliation:
National Health System-ASL Roma B, Roma, Italy
D. Mugnaini
Affiliation:
Centre for Neuropsychological Assessment, Local Health Service of Florence, Florence, Italy
F. Thomas
Affiliation:
National Health System-ASL Roma B, Roma, Italy
M. Di Trani
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical and Dynamic Psychology, ‘Sapienza’ University, Rome, Italy
M. Innocenzi
Affiliation:
National Health System-ASL Roma B, Roma, Italy
B. Vitiello
Affiliation:
National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
*
Address for correspondence: Dr R. Donfrancesco, Ospedale Sandro Pertini, via dei Monti Tiburtini, 00157 Roma, Italy. (Email: renato.donfrancesco@yahoo.it)
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Abstract

Background.

The rate with which attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is diagnosed varies widely across countries, suggesting that cultural factors influence the clinical interpretation of child behaviour. This study estimated the point prevalence of severe ADHD among elementary and middle-school Italian children.

Method.

An epidemiological sample of 2016 children attending 2nd–8th grade in the Italian regions of Tuscany and Latium was selected based on census distribution of the school-age population. Teachers completed the Italian version of the ADHD Rating Scale for Teachers (SDAI). For children with at least six inattention symptoms and/or at least six hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms rated ‘very often’ by the teachers, the parents completed the Italian ADHD Rating Scale for Parents (SDAG). Children with documented ADHD symptoms at both school and home received a complete psychiatric interview with the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-present and lifetime version (K-SADS-PL).

Results.

Of the 1887 assessed children, 4.45% (95% CI 3.58–5.51) met the ADHD cut-off on teacher ratings, 1.43% (0.96–2.12) had ADHD symptoms endorsed by both teacher and parent, and 1.32% (0.87–1.97) were further confirmed by the psychiatric evaluation. The male:female ratio was 7:1. The inattentive type accounted for about half of the ADHD cases.

Conclusions.

When applying stringent criteria for both severity and pervasiveness of symptoms, it is estimated that about 1.3% of the Italian elementary and middle-school children suffer from severe ADHD.

Keywords

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorderchildrenItalyprevalence
Type
Original Articles
Information
Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences , Volume 24 , Issue 6 , December 2015 , pp. 525 - 533
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2014 

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