Estudos epidemiológicos em neuropsiquiatria infantil com ênfase no transtorno de déficit de atenção e hiperatividade

Resumo

The worldwide prevalence estimates of neuropsychiatric disorders in childhood are highly heterogeneous. The reasons for this discrepancy remain poorly understood. Geographic location plays a limited role in the reasons for the large variability of neuropsychiatric disorders prevalence in childhood estimates worldwide. Instead, this variability seems to be explained primarily by the methodological characteristics of studies. Prevalence estimates of the attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and the rate of persistence of symptoms across the lifespan are heterogeneous, raising questions about the validity of the diagnosis. The best available estimates of ADHD prevalence are around 5.29% for children and adolescents. Estimates of ADHD prevalence seem to be highly affected by methodological characteristics of the studies.

Descrição

Palavras-chave

TDAH, Epidemiologia, Neuropsiquiatria infantil, Transtorno de déficit de atenção e hiperatividade, ADHD, Epidemiology, Child neuropsychiatry, Attention deficit hiperactivity disorder

Citação

AZEVÊDO, Paulo Verlaine Borges e; CAIXETA, Leonardo Ferreira; MENDES, Giuliana Macedo. Estudos epidemiológicos em neuropsiquiatria infantil com ênfase no transtorno de déficit de atenção e hiperatividade. Revista Brasileira de Neurologia, Rio de Janeiro, v. 45, n. 4, p. 35-40, 2009.