Lifetime prevalence, sociodemographic predictors, and comorbidities of oppositional defiant disorder: the National Epidemiology of Iranian Child and Adolescent Psychiatric disorders (IRCAP)

Objective: This was the first national epidemiological study on oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) in Iran, which provided new information about the prevalence, comorbidities, and sociodemographic predictors of ODD. Methods: Data from a face-to-face household survey of 30,532 children and adolescents aged 6-18 years were collected from across all 31 provinces of Iran using a multistage cluster sampling design. The Persian version of the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children - Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL) was used in this study. Results: The lifetime prevalence of ODD was found to be 3.9%. ODD was significantly more common in boys than girls and appeared in late adolescence more frequently than in childhood. A lower prevalence of ODD was found among participants who lived in rural areas. ODD is highly likely to co-occur with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, separation anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and depressive disorders. Conclusions: The findings of this national population-based study confirm and extend previous findings on the prevalence, comorbidities, and sociodemographic predictors of ODD.

Salud mental infantil: una prioridad a considerar / Children's mental health: a priority to consider

Resumen: Objetivo: Identificar posibles cambios en la frecuencia de manifestaciones sindromáticas sugerentes de problemas de salud mental en población infantil mexicana empleando el Cuestionario Breve de Tamizaje y Diagnóstico (CBTD), a lo largo de 15 años. Material y métodos: Se analiza información de diferentes estudios en población general, escuelas y práctica médica. La estimación obtenida en la Ciudad de México fue utilizada como población de referencia para comparación. Resultados: Se apreciaron incrementos notables respecto a la prevalencia de síndromes como el déficit de atención e hiperactividad, y conducta oposicionista y explosiva, así como manifestaciones de ansiedad y depresivas. Estas últimas resultaron más frecuentes en la edad escolar tardía. Las alteraciones en el lenguaje y la epilepsia también mostraron incremento en diferentes grupos de edad. Conclusiones: Se discuten los hallazgos a la luz de estudios longitudinales en la literatura, así como de reportes de población adolescente en nuestro país.

Abstract: Objective: To identify possible changes in the frequency of psychopathological syndromes in Mexican children population over a 15-year period using the Brief Screening and Diagnostic Questionnaire (CBTD in Spanish). Materials and methods: Information gathered from different studies on the general population, schools and medical general practice are analyzed. Results from the Mexico City study were used as base rates for comparisons. Results: Higher prevalence of externalizing syndromes such as attention deficit and hyperactivity, oppositional and explosive conduct were very evident. Also, anxiety and depressive syndromes showed a notable increase. Prevalence of abnormal language and probable epilepsy were also increased on different age-groups. Conclusions: Findings are discussed in light of longitudinal reports in the literature as well as on reports in adolescent population in Mexico.

Trastornos de desatencion e hiperactividad - TDH / Attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity

El Trastorno de Desatención e Hiperactividad (TDHA) esposiblemente la patología infantil que más auge ha adquiridoen las dos últimas décadas. Este trastorno es considerado,en muchos casos, una problemática social, tanto por sucada vez mayor prevalencia, como por el involucramientode distintos sectores en la misma. Ello ha llevado a queexista una fuerte presión desde la institución escolar y enalgunos casos también de la familia para que esta patologíainfantil encuentre una rápida resolución mediante el usode psicofármacos. En la actualidad, sin embargo, se hapuesto en duda los fundamentos científicos que muestranuna prevalencia elevada para este trastorno hasta alcanzar,en algunos casos, el 20% del total de población infantil.Ello conlleva a la discusión acerca de si es posible sosteneral TDHA como una entidad diagnóstica independiente, osi solo se trata de un conjunto de síntomas relativamenteindependientes entre sí

The disorder of inattention and hyperactivity is arguablythe child pathology more boom has acquired in the past twodecades, considered in many cases a real social problem, its increasing prevalence, both sectors that are involved with regard to the same. This hasled to that there is strong pressure from the school and in some cases also the family sothat this child pathology find a quick resolution through the use of psychoactive drugs.However, it should be questioned about the scientific foundations who claim a high andbelief so high prevalence for this pathology, reaching almost, in some cases, 20 per cent.Alternatively, if it is possible to hold to the TDHA as an independent diagnosed entity, orif it is only a relatively independent symptoms set with each other

El acoso escolar (bullying) y su asociación con trastornos psiquiátricos en una muestra de escolares en México / Bullying and its association with psychiatric disorders in a Mexican students sample

OBJETIVO: Estudiar la relación entre el tipo de psicopatología y el acoso escolar en una muestra de niños de las escuelas públicas de la Ciudad de México. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Un total de 1 092 escolares identificó por medio del Test Bull-S a un grupo de agresores,víctimas,víctima-agresores y neutros. Los padres contestaron la Lista de Síntomas del Niño (Child Behavior Checklist, CBCL) para determinar el rango clínico de psicopatología. RESULTADOS: El grupo de agresores tuvo asociación con las escalas de ansiedad, síntomas somáticos, oposicionismo y de conducta. El grupo de víctima-agresores presentó asociación con los problemas de atención,oposicionismo y de conducta.En el grupo de víctimas las asociaciones encontradas fueron con los problemas de ansiedad.Estas diferencias fueron significativas frente al grupo control (neutros). CONCLUSIÓN: El acoso escolar se asocia con psicopatología que requiere de atención psiquiátrica oportuna.

OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between bullying behavior and psychopathology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 1 092 students identified their peers' bullying status based on the Bull-S questionnaire. Parents completed the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) to determine psychopathology levels. RESULTS: The bullying group had associations with anxiety, somatic symptoms, oppositionalism and behavior problems; the bully-victims group had associations with attention, oppositionalism and behavior problems; victims had higher anxiety scores.These differences were significant compared with the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Bullying is associated with psychopathology, which requires timely psychiatric attention.

ECI-4 screening of attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder and co-morbidity in Mexican preschool children: preliminary results / Tamizaje del trastorno por déficit de atención-hiperactividad y su co-morbilidad en preescolares mexicanos por el ECI-4: resultados preliminares

OBJECTIVE: To examine prospectively usefulness of Early Childhood Inventory-4 (ECI-4) in identifying attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), and conduct disorder (CD). METHOD: A sample of children <6 years of age were evaluated in school settings with ECI-4 and results compared with those of Conners Rating Scales-Revised (CRS-R) 6 months later. Sample consisted of 34 healthy children (20 boys, 14 girls) prospectively followed-up. RESULTS: Frequency of children fulfill DSM-IV AD-HD criteria in ECI-4 parent scale was 17 percent, and in teacher scale was 32 percent. Frequency of children fulfill DSM-IV AD-HD criteria in parent CRS-R was 20 percent, and for teacher questionnaire was 23 percent. Correlations were significant among teacher ECI-4 and both teacher and parent CRS-R scales. Sensitivity and specificity of teacher and parent ECI-4 scales were not good. Frequency of ODD identified in parent ECI-4 scale was 5 percent, and for teacher 17 percent. Frequency of ODD in CRS-R for parents and teachers questionnaires was 17 percent. CD was not identified by parents in ECI-4 scale, but in teacher scale frequency was 14 percent. CONCLUSION: These facts support partially the use of ECI-4 screening of ADHD in Spanish-speaking preschool children.

OBJETIVO: Examinar prospectivamente la utilidad del Inventario Temprano de la Niñez-4 (Early Childhood Inventory-4, ECI-4) para identificar el trastorno por déficit de atención-hiperactividad (TDAH), el trastorno desafiante-oposicional (TDO) y el trastorno de conducta (TC). MÉTODO: Una muestra de niños <6 años fue evaluada con el ECI-4 en un ambiente escolar y los resultados comparados con los de las Escalas de Conners (Conners Rating Scales-Revised, CRS-R) 6 meses mas tarde. La muestra consistió de 34 niños (20 niños, 14 niñas) seguidos prospectivamente. RESULTADOS: La frecuencia de niños que llenaron los criterios del DSM-IV para TDAH en la escala para padres del ECI-4 fue 17 por ciento, mientras que en la escala para maestros fue 32 por ciento. La frecuencia de niños que llenaron los criterios del DSM-IV para TDA-H en la escala para padres CRS-R fue 20 por ciento, en la escala para maestros fue 23 por ciento. Se hallaron correlaciones significativas entre la escala para maestros del ECI-4 y las escalas para maestros y para padres de CRS-R. La sensibilidad y la especificidad de las escalas para maestros y padres del ECI-4 no fueron alentadoras. La frecuencia del TDO identificada en la escala para padres del ECI-4 fue 5 por ciento y en la escala para maestros fue 17 por ciento. La frecuencia del TDO en la escala para padres y para maestros CRS-R fue 17 por ciento. El TC no fue identificado por los padres con la escala del ECI-4, pero en la escala para maestros, la frecuencia fue de 14 por ciento. CONCLUSION: Los resultados obtenidos apoyan parcialmente el uso de las escalas de tamizaje del ECI-4 para encontrar TDAH, TDO y TC en preescolares mexicanos.

Autism: A review for family physicians.

Autism is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by qualitative impairments in social interaction and communication, with restricted, repetitive, stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests and activities. These behaviors manifest along a wide spectrum and commence before 36 months of age. Diagnosis of autism is made by ascertaining whether the child's specific behaviors meet the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV-Revised criteria. Its etiology is still unclear but recent studies suggest that genetics plays a major role in conferring susceptibility. Recent neuroimaging research studies indicate that autism may be caused by atypical functioning in the central nervous system, particularly in the limbic system: amygdala and hippocampus. In a third of autistic children, loss of language and/or social skills occurs during the second year of life, usually between 15 and 21 months of age. Comorbidity with mental retardation, epilepsy, disruptive behaviors and learning difficulty is not uncommon. Although there is currently no known cure for autism there is evidence to suggest that early intervention therapy can improve functioning of autistic children. Judicious use of psychotropic drugs is necessary to manage associated aggression, hyperactivity, self-mutilation, temper tantrums; but drugs are not a substitute for behavioral and educational interventions. The family physician can play an important role in detecting autism early, coordinating its assessment and treatment, counseling the parents and classroom teacher, and monitoring the child's progress on a long term basis.

Comorbidades do transtorno de déficit de atenção e hiperatividade em crianças escolares / Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder comorbidity in a school sample of children

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a freqüência de transtorno de conduta (TC), transtorno desafiador opositivo (TDO) e transtorno obsessivo-compulsivo (TOC) em crianças com transtorno de déficit de atenção e hiperatividade (TDAH). MÉTODO: Estudo realizado em crianças de 7 a 11 anos com TDAH conforme critérios do DSM-IV (n=35), exame neurológico normal e exame neurológico evolutivo (ENE) segundo Lefèvre alterado. Os responsáveis responderam a questionários contendo os critérios do DSM-IV para TDAH e para comorbidades. RESULTADOS: TDAH do tipo combinado foi o mais prevalente (51,4 por cento). Quatorze crianças (40,0 por cento) apresentaram TC, incluindo duas que apresentaram TC e TOC. Cinco (14,2 por cento) apresentaram apenas TDO e uma (2,8 por cento) apresentou apenas TOC. Onze das quatorze crianças (78,5 por cento) com TC tinham TDAH do tipo combinado (p<0,05). Onze das quinze crianças (73,3 por cento) sem comorbidades eram do tipo desatentas ou hiperativas (p<0,05). CONCLUSÃO: O TDAH apresenta alta freqüência de comorbidade com TC, que parece estar preferencialmente associado ao TDAH combinado.

Transtorno desafiador de oposição: uma revisão de correlatos neurobiológicos e ambientais, comorbidades, tratamento e prognóstico / Oppositional defiant disorder: a review of neurobiological and environmental correlates, comorbidities, treatment and prognosis

Transtorno desafiador de oposição (TDO) é uma entidade diagnóstica independente, mas é freqüentemente estudada em conjunto com transtorno de déficit de atenção/hiperatividade (TDAH) ou com transtorno de conduta (TC). O objetivo deste artigo é o de fazer uma revisão das evidências existentes, obtidas por meio da base de dados PubMed, sobre achados neurobiológicos no transtorno desafiador de oposição, funcionamento familiar e escolar, comorbidades, prognóstico e opções terapêuticas para transtorno desafiador de oposição. A evidência de correlatos hormonais, genéticos e neurofuncionais de transtorno desafiador de oposição, a conexão com a família, as relações e desempenho escolares, a associação com transtornos do humor, ansiosos e disruptivos, o risco de evolução para transtorno de conduta e de persistência de sintomas de transtorno desafiador de oposição são descritos. Uma revisão do efeito da Terapia Cognitivo-Comportamental e tratamento farmacológico é apresentada. A análise das evidências disponíveis mostra que o impacto de transtorno desafiador de oposição não deve ser ignorado e que o transtorno desafiador de oposição deve ser devidamente abordado. O impacto do tratamento de transtorno desafiador de oposição no prognóstico de longo prazo dos pacientes ainda precisa ser determinado.

Características de niños y adolescentes atendidos en un consultorio psiquiátrico del sistema privado de salud en Chile / Characteristics of children and adolescents attended in a private psychiatric outpatient clinic in Chile

Background: There is a 7 percent up to 32 percent prevalence of psychiatric problems in the pediatric population. Aim: To study the epidemiological features of children and adolescents attended in a psychiatric outpatient clinic. Material and methods: All admissions to a psychiatric outpatient clinic, of people aged 18 years old or less, during 1998, were reviewed. The causes of consultation and the diagnoses were classified according to diagnostic manuals (ICPC-WONCA and DSM-IV respectively), by three experienced psychiatrists. Results: The files of 376 patients were reviewed (200 males, mean age of females 12 years old, mean age of males 10.5 years old). Seventy three percent consulted spontaneously. The main causes of consultation were anxiety disorders and adolescence problems (28 percent). The main diagnoses were attention deficit disorder and disruptive behavior, adaptative problems, mood and anxiety disorders. There were gender differences in the diagnoses. Women attended a mean of 6.3 sessions and men attended a mean of 4 sessions. Fifty nine percent abandoned treatment. Conclusions: There is a limited access to mental health care. The low compliance with treatments must be studied and improved

Trastorno por déficit de atención: comorbilidad y efectos prospectivos / Attention deficit disorder: comorbilidad and prospective effects

Se presentan los hallazgos relacionados con los factores de comorbilidad del trastorno por déficit de atención con hiperactividad. Actualmente se propone un diagnóstico diferencial por paciente para identificar los síntomas de comorbilidad que pueden causar confusión en el diagnóstico. Se revisan las investigaciones en torno a la relación entre trastorno por déficit de atención y los siguientes sistemas de comorbilidad: trastorno disocial, trastorno negativista, desafiante y trastorno del estado de ánimo. Se menciona en la etiología: resistencia generalizada a la hormona tiroidea y anormalidades en los neurotransmisores. Se propone un tratamiento combinando metalfenidato y terapia cognitivoconductual. Se enuncian los efectos prospectivos del trastorno por déficit de atención con personalidad antisocial, abuso de drogas y delincuencia.

Enfermedad de los tics: síndrome de Gilles de la Tourette: características clínicas de 70 pacientes / Gilles de la Touretteïs syndrome: clinical review and analysis of 70 chilean patients

Background: Tourette's syndrome is a childhood-onset hereditary neurobehavioural disorder believed to occur without geographical restrictions. Although there have been reports of this disorder worldwide just a few are from Latin America. Aim: To report a preliminary experience with a series of 70 patients and to review recent advances in this disorder. Patients and Method: We reviewed patients seen in pediatric and adult neurological clinics in Santiago, Chile, all of whom fulfilled clinical diagnostic criteria for Tourette Syndrome. Results: Seventy patients were studied, 54 males (77.1 percent) and 16 females (22.8 percent), their mean age at first evaluation was 13.6 years (range 2-46). The mean age of onset of symptoms was 6.4 (range 2-20), the mean time of follow-up was 3 years. Fifty-eight patients showed simple motor tics (blinking, facial grimacing, shoulder shrugging), whereas dystonic tics like head jerking were seen in 38 patients, torticollis in 6 and oculogyric movements in 2. Complex motor tics like jumping, antics, trunk bending and head shaking were present in 16 subjects. Vocal tics were predominantly of the simple type: sniffing, throat clearing, blowing, and whistling. Complex vocal tics were seen in 12 patients, five cases showed palilalia, 3 echolalia and only six displayed coprolalia (8.5 percent). Tics were of mild to moderate severity in most patients. Obsessive-compulsive disorder was observed in 22.8 percent and attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder were present in 35.7 percent. Forty-five patients (64.2 percent) had a first degree relative with tics, nine patients (12.8 percent) had a family history of obsessive-compulsive disorder. The current evidence involving desinhibition of cortico-striatum-thalamic-cortical neuronal circuits in the pathogenesis of this disorder is analyzed. Conclusion: Our report supports the recognized clinical homogeneity and genetical basis of TouretteÕs syndrome regardless of geographical region and ethnic origin