Epidemiology of Psychiatric Disorders among Children and Adolescents in Kerman and Suburbs in 2016-2017

Psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents are prevalent disorders that can have detrimental complications. The aim of this study was to determine the epidemiology of psychiatric disorders among children and adolescents in Kerman and its suburbs in 2016-2017.

In this cross-sectional study 1050 children and adolescents aged 6-18 years were selected from Kerman and its suburbs using multistage cluster sampling method. The Persian version of Kiddie-SADS- present and lifetime questionnaire (K-SADSPL) was used to collect data. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and logistic regression.

The prevalence of psychiatric disorders among children and adolescents in Kerman was 25% (95%CI: 22.71-27.95). The anxiety and behavioral disorders were the most prevalent psychiatric disorders, respectively (13.9% (95%CI: 11.94-16.2) and 12.3% (95%CI: 10.44-14.41). Among anxiety disorders, separation anxiety disorder with 6.8% (95%CI: 5.39-8.44) and among behavioral disorders, oppositional defiant disorder with 8% (95%CI: 6.51-9.8) were the most common psychiatric disorders. The prevalence of psychiatric disorders was similar in boys and girls (25%). Parents’ education, age, place of residence (urban and rural), and mother’s occupation were significantly related with the prevalence of psychiatric disorders.

Due to the high prevalence of psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents, designing and implementing programs for the prevention and treatment of psychiatric disorders among these groups in Kerman appear to be essential.