Prevalence of psychiatric disorders among children and adolescents in northeast China.

BACKGROUND: To describe the prevalence of DSM-IV disorders and comorbidity in a large school-based sample of 6-17 year old children and adolescents in northeast China. METHODS: A two-phase cross-sectional study was conducted on 9,806 children. During the screening phase, 8848 children (90.23%) and their mothers and teachers were interviewed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). During the diagnostic phase, 1129 children with a positive SDQ and 804 randomly selected children with a negative SDQ (11%), and their mothers and teachers, were interviewed using the Development and Well-Being Assessment (DAWBA). RESULTS: The overall prevalence of DSM-IV disorders was 9.49% (95% CI = 8.10-11.10%). Anxiety disorders were the most common (6.06%, 95% CI = 4.92-7.40), followed by depression (1.32%, 95% CI = 0.91-1.92%), oppositional defiant disorder (1.21%, 95%CI = 0.77-1.87) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (0.84%, 95% CI = 0.52-1.36%). Of the 805 children with a psychiatric disorder, 15.2% had two or more comorbid disorders. CONCLUSIONS: Approximately one in ten Chinese school children has psychiatric disorders involving a level of distress or social impairment likely to warrant treatment. Prevention, early identification and treatment of these disorders are urgently needed and pose a serious challenge in China

Prevalence of psychiatric disorders by socio-demographic and geographic characteristics.

<p>Prevalence of psychiatric disorders by socio-demographic and geographic characteristics.</p

Weighted prevalence (95% CI) for DSM-IV disorder in children aged 6–17.

<p>Note: No subjects were diagnosed with agoraphobia. CI = confidence interval; NOS = not otherwise specified; ADHD = attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder; less common disorder: tic disorders and eating disorders</p><p>Weighted prevalence (95% CI) for DSM-IV disorder in children aged 6–17.</p

Adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for comorbid DSM-IV disorders.

<p>ADHD = attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.</p

Flowchart showing inclusion criteria for the samples of adolescents in this two-phase design study.

<p>Flowchart showing inclusion criteria for the samples of adolescents in this two-phase design study.</p

Comorbidity (%) among the 805 children with a psychiatric disorder.

<p>Comorbidity (%) among the 805 children with a psychiatric disorder.</p