Prevalence of ADHD in Northern Cyprus

Objective: We evaluated the prevalence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among primary school children in Nicosia, a province of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Methods: ADHD screening scales were filled out by the teachers and parents of primary school children aged 6-11 years. The study was conducted in two stages. In the first stage, the Turgay DSM-IV-Based Disruptive Behavior Disorders Child and Adolescent Rating & Screening Scale (T-DSM-IV-S) was sent to the parents of 1140 students and also given to the teachers of children whose parents filled out the T-DSM-IV-S. For the second stage, children and parents whose children had ≥12 points from the ADHD scales, either by the parents’ or teachers’ report, were invited to our clinic for a semi-structured interview (Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School Aged Children-Present and Lifetime; K-SADS-PL). ADHD was diagnosed with use of the K-SADS-PL in both children and their parents as well as in accordance with DSM-IV-TR ADHD criteria. Results: The response rate for parents in stage I was 49.9%. A total of 125 children fulfilled the positive screening criteria. Ninety-eight parents were inter-viewed. The prevalence of ADHD was 12.8%. The major subtype was combined type (61.1%); the inattentive type was present in 33% of the sample, and the hyperactive-impulsive type in 5.6%. Discussion: The prevalence of ADHD in primary school-aged children in a province in the TRNC was 12.8%. This is the first study to assess ADHD prevalence and subtype distribution in the TRNC.