Epidemiologic Considerations in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Review and Update
Abstract
Epidemiologic data on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are essential for planning health services and implementing strategies of detection and early intervention, with possible substantial benefits on public health. This article addresses methodological aspects of prevalence studies, recent findings on the prevalence of ADHD in childhood and adolescence based on a systematic review, current findings on the persistence of the disorder over time and prevalence in adulthood, and factors associated with ADHD. Evidence from the reviewed literature indicates the importance of methodological aspects in the understanding of epidemiologic findings and the necessity of large-scale cross-national studies. Moreover, governments clearly must direct attention to childhood mental disorders to guarantee a healthy future for their countries.
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A subsequent meta-analysis concluded that the true male-to-female prevalence ratio of ADHD is closer to 2.45:1 in non-referred community samples, whereas earlier estimates indicated a ratio of 9:1.
“Although earlier estimates indicated a male-to-female ratio of 9:1, a subsequent meta-analysis concluded that the true prevalence ratio is closer to 2.45:1 in non-referred community samples”
From The descriptive epidemiology of DSM-IV adult ADHD in the world health organization world mental health surveys (2017) · cites this paper as Polanczyk and Jensen 2008
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- Authors
- Polanczyk, G., & Jensen, P.
- Affiliations
- Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (BR)
- Corresponding author
- Polanczyk, Guilherme
- Venue
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2008-04
- Volume
- 17
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 245-260
- ISSN
- 1056-4993 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1984756294
- Cited by
- 198
- References
- 11
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 19 · 2012: 10
- FWCI
- 1.56
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (MCT/CNPq 02/2006 - Universal)
- Ministério da Educação
- Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Keywords
- attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, ADHD prevalence, childhood ADHD, adolescent ADHD, adult ADHD, risk factors, cross-national comparison, early detection and intervention
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Age Factors, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Child, Cross-Sectional Studies, Humans, Socioeconomic Factors, United States, Incidence
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