DefinePK

Abstract

Objective: This study was aimed to describe the frequency, gender ratio, clinical characteristics and comorbidities of ADHD in Pakistani population.Design: Descriptive studyPlace and duration of study: Department of Psychiatry of Aga Khan University Karachi from June 2002to June 2004.Subjects and Methods: We reviewed the case records of 166 consecutive referrals at our child psychiatricclinics during the above mentioned time period .Results: Clinical notes of 166 patients presenting to child psychiatric clinic from July 2002 to July 2004were reviewed. Sixty three (34%) children were diagnosed with ADHD. Gender ratio was 1 to 5 forfemales to males. Females presented more with in-attentive type of disorder as opposed to males whohad more hyper-active, impulsive symptamatology. One third of the sample had co morbid psychiatricillnesses. Mental retardation and depression was more prevalent in our sample. Developmentalabnormalities were also reported in one third of the cases. Family history of psychiatric illness waspresent in 50 % of cases.Conclusion: The syndrome of ADHD has broadly similar prevalence, clinical characteristics and comorbidities in clinical population in Pakistan to that reported in the literature from studies in Westerncountries.Key words: ADHD, Child psychiatry, Pakistan.