Prevalence of Psychiatric Disorders amongst Adolescents in Tehran

Objective: The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of different psychiatric disorders among 12 to 17 years old adolescents in urban areas of Tehran. Method: In this study, 1105 adolescents (12 -17 years old) were selected from 250 clusters of the entire 22 municipality areas of Tehran using a multistage sampling method. After responding to the Farsi version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire self-report version, the Farsi version of the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia – Present and Lifetime version (K-SADS-PL) was administered to 273 adolescents and their families. The prevalence of adolescent psychiatric disorders was determined using the results of K-SADS-PL. Results: There were not any statistically significant differences between the sexes in the frequency of psychiatric disorders except for ADHD which was observed more frequently in boys. The most prevalent psychiatric disorders were attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), oppositional defiant disorder, depressive disorders and separation anxiety disorder. Conclusion: The frequency of psychiatric disorders among the adolescents in Tehranʹs urban areas was comparable to the reports from other countries. However, using methods to deal with missing data makes these prevalence rates somehow higher.