Prevalence of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in a Community Sample of Older Adolescents

ABSTRACT Objective To study the prevalence and correlates of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in a community sample of older adolescents. Method From 1986 to 1988, 3,419 seventh, eighth, and ninth graders were screened with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale. The top decile scorers and a random sample of the remainder were interviewed with the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children. These data are from the second wave of interviews ( N = 490, mean age = 18.65). Results The weighted prevalence of DSM-III-R ADHD was 1.51% (males: 2.62%, females: 0.54%). Significant associations ( p p = .058) is inversely associated with ADHD. For subjects not meeting the age-at-onset criterion, 1.94% met the eight symptom criteria, and females (3.2%) were more prevalent than males (0.3%). Conclusions ADHD remains a problem in this sample of older adolescents and is often comorbid with affective disorders. A significant number report eight ADHD symptoms but do not meet the age-at-onset criterion. This group deserves research attention.