Prevalence rates of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder in a school sample of Venezuelan children.

A total of 1,535 4-12 year-old children were screened with the Conners' rating scales, followed by diagnostic confirmation by the diagnostic interview schedule for children-IV-parent version. The prevalence of ADHD was estimated to be 10.03%, and only 3.9% of children had received medication for the treatment of ADHD symptoms. Prevalence rates and demographic profile of Venezuelan children with ADHD are very similar to those found in samples from other countries. Authorities need to develop public health policies to correctly identify and treat affected subjects. Furthermore, clinicians must actively search for children with ADHD in order to provide the best-available treatment.