ABSTRACT
The prevalence of attention-deficit/hyperac-tivity disorder (ADHD) in several countries has been investigated, and, as in the United States, statistics vary depending on factors such as age of the individuals investigated, gender, raters and diagnostic criteria employed. ADHD is the most frequently studied disorder of childhood, and volumes of scientific evidence attest to the existence of the disorder. In India, Bhatia, Nigam, Bohra, and Malik reported that 29.2% of adolescents ages 11 and 12 displayed significant ADHD symptoms. An important distinction is whether prevalence rates reflect the prevalence of ADHD symptoms or actual diagnosed cases of ADHD. Barbaresi et al. reported a 7.5% cumulative incidence of ADHD in 19-year-olds living in Rochester, Minnesota. Although no "infancy profile" exists, several factors have been associated with the development of ADHD, including maternal smoking and alcohol use during pregnancy, premature delivery, low birth weight, delayed motor development, and strong intensity of response during infancy.
