PLoS ONE (Jan 2014)

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

  • Yang Xiaoli,
  • Jiang Chao,
  • Pan Wen,
  • Xu Wenming,
  • Liang Fang,
  • Li Ning,
  • Mu Huijuan,
  • Na Jun,
  • Lv Ming,
  • An Xiaoxia,
  • Yu Chuanyou,
  • Fu Zenguo,
  • Li Lili,
  • Yu Lianzheng,
  • Tong Lijuan,
  • Pan Guowei

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0111223
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9, no. 10
p. e111223

Abstract

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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.