Abstract
Discussion:
ADHD and major depression were the most frequent diagnoses in outpatients with attention problems. Almost one fifth of the cases had more than one diagnoses which can cause this problem. While most of the girls were diagnosed as having major depression and anxiety disorders, the boys were diagnosed as ADHD. Patients who present to adolescent psychiatry clinics because of attention problems must be screened for multiple diagnose.
Results:
11 (25.6%) cases were diagnosed as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), 12 (27.9%) cases were diagnosed as major depression, 4 (9.3%) cases were diagnosed as anxiety disorder, 3 (7.0%) cases were diagnosed as comorbid anxiety disorder and major depression, 5 (11.7%) cases were diagnosed as ADHD comorbid with major depression, and 1 (2.3%) case were mentally retarded. There was no psychopathology in 7 cases (16.3%). Comorbid and pure depression cases had significantly higher BDI and STAI scores compared to cases with ADHD and without psychopathology.
Method:
43 adolescents (22 males, 21 females; mean age 15.9) who presented to a university clinic with attention problems were assessed with interviews and diagnosis were made according to DSM-IV criteria. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Stait-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) were also used.
Objective:
To evaluate the psychiatric diagnosis of adolescent cases whose primary complaint was attention problems.
Keywords: adolescent, attention, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety, depression
