Epidemiology and diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in the Arab and Jewish populations in Israel.
2Pediatric Neurology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Israel
3., Neuro-Pediatric Unit, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center (Mount Scopus Campus), Jerusalem, Israel
4., Department of Education, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
5., Pediatric Neurology at Assuta-Ashdod University Hospital, Ashdod, Israel
6., Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
7., The Paul Baerwald School of Social Work and Social Welfare, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem,Israel
Background: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is the most common neurobehavioral disorder of childhood. The prevalence rates of ADHD seem to have increased during the last decades . Scientific research over the past 30 years has helped characterize biological and genetic components involved in ADHD .
Aim: The aim of the current study was to understand the factors shaping the gap in the literature concerning the Israeli Arab population, as well as the paucity of information available regarding the risk and cultural factors, comorbidity, and the association with SES within the Arab community.
Methods: Retrospective data was collected from medical records in outpatient clinics between the years 2005-2017. Data included 474 Arab and 292 Jewish children aged 5 to 18 years.
Results: Main reason for referral was inattention symptoms (44.4%) in Arabs, and academic problems (42.8%) in Jews. Arab preschoolers were mainly hyperactive, whereas adolescents complained about academic difficulties. Arab girls reported inattention symptoms, whereas boys complained of aggressive behavior. ADHD combined subtype (ADHD- C) was the most common subtype in both populations. ADHD-C was more prevalent in preschoolers, and ADHD Inattentive subtype (ADHD-I) was more prevalent between ages 11.1 to 15 years. We found an association between language delay and ADHD in both populations.
Conclusion: ADHD characteristics among Israeli Arab and Jewish populations were mainly similar, and analogous with global results.
This study was published in Archives of Community Medicine and Public Health
Published: 28 July, 2020
E-mail: jabe@bezeqint.net