Short term course and outcome of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder from a tertiary care child and adolescent psychiatry centre

Abstract

Background: This study examines the short term course and outcome of children and adolescents diagnosed to have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and treated from an out-patient service of a tertiary care centre in India Methodology: 63 children were diagnosed to have ADHD of whom 39 children were available at 6 months for a face- to –face follow up. The tools used were MINIKID, Vineland Social Maturity Scale, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder-Rating Scale –IV (ADHD-RS), Children's Global Assessment Scale (CGAS) and Clinical Global Impressions Scale. Results: The clinic prevalence of ADHD was 10.5%. ADHD- combined was the most common subtype (92.1%). At the end of 6 months, 84.6% continued to fulfill criteria for ADHD. The mean baseline ADHD-RS and CGAS scores significantly improved over the period of follow up. Severity of illness at baseline and presence of oppositional defiant disorder predicted poorer outcome at 6 months. Conclusion: ADHD is a stable disorder. Severity of symptoms and functionality significantly improved in children and adolescents with treatment as usual in the clinic setting. Oppositional defiant disorder and severe forms of the illness require particular attention during management.

Keywords

• attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
• course
• outcome
• india