Comparing psychiatric co morbidity in female and male primary school children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, Arak, Iran

Introduction: The aim of this study was comparison of prevalence of three subtypes of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and combined type in female and male primary school children in Arak. Methods: This cross– sectional study was carried on 2000 (960 girls and 1040 boys) students of primary schools, in Arak in 1388-1389 academic years. Intelligence Raven scale, and Canner,s questionnaire (parents and teachers) were used to confirm the disorders, KSADS- E questionnaire (Schedule for Affective disorder and Schizophrenia epidemiological version) and demographic characteristics questionnaires were completed for all cases. Data were analyzed by using Chi-Square test and logistic regression. Results: The results show that 2.3, 3.5 and 2.7 percent of children had one of attention deficit, hyperactivity-impulsivity or combined type of disorders, respectively. The findings showed that, prevalence of hyperactivity and attention deficit disorder was decreased with age, while combined type of disorder was increased with age. The prevalence of hyperactivity and attention deficit disorders in boys and girls was not significantly different but in the combined type disorder (ADHD) this difference was significant (P<0.05). Difference between girls and boys in co-morbidity of ADHD disorders (attention deficit, hyperactivity, and combined type) and psychiatry disorders (conduct, depressive, urinary incontinence, tic, schizophrenia oppositional, obsessive- compulsive, manic, social phobia), was not statistically. Conclusion: Prevalence of the disorder subtypes was different among age groups and gender but, it was not statistically different between co-morbidity of ADHD disorders and psychiatry disorders.