Below is a curated list of published studies related to different aspects of Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in Saudi Arabia, including prevalence, awareness, diagnosis, language and communication, and review articles.
Additional studies from Saudi Arabia, including topics not featured on this page, are available in the research library. We also maintain a list of ADHD-related theses that have been made available online. If you would like your research featured here, or know of any publications in or about ADHD in KSA that you believe should be included here, please get in touch by email at research @ adhd.org.sa.
Note: Unless specifically stated, these studies were neither conducted by nor supported by the Saudi ADHD Society, and are provided as a resource for researchers only.
Review Articles
Prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in the Arab Gulf countries: systematic review and meta-analysis
- Bandar M Almojarthe
International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health
10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20230247Abstract
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is an important growing psychiatric health problem of children and adolescents all over the world. This review aimed to investigate the prevalence of ADHD in the Arab Gulf countries. A literature search was conducted on 14 January 2022. Any paper reporting the prevalence of ADHD in Arab Gulf countries was included. R software was used for the meta-analysis. We included 14 papers. The prevalence of ADHD was 5.90% (95% confidence interval (CI)=1.73-20.14). We found no significant difference in the prevalence of ADHD between males and females (odds ratio (OR)=1.48; 95% CI=0.53-4.14; p value=0.456). The leave-one-out sensitivity analysis did not change the statistical significance proving that a single study did not drive the pooled effect size. Regarding parents’ educational level, the prevalence was the highest among children born to fathers with at least a secondary education 51% (95% CI= 22.97-100.00), while the prevalence rate was comparable among those with primary school education 16.6% (95% CI=1.28-100.00) and illiterate fathers 17% (95% CI=12.84-22.59). The difference between different education subgroups was statistically significant (p=0.040). There were no statistically significant differences in ADHD prevalence when comparing different mothers’ educational levels (p=0.260). The estimated cumulative evidence is high but comparable with the reported worldwide rates. Unlike these studies, the prevalence of ADHD was not associated with gender or maternal education. On the other hand, the highest prevalence of ADHD was found among children of fathers with at least a secondary education.
Keywords
ADHD, Arab Gulf, prevalence, systematic review, meta-analysis, reviewCitation
[research_citation style="APA" pubtype="journal" authors="Bandar M Almojarthe," year="2023" title="Prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in the Arab Gulf countries: systematic review and meta-analysis" volume="10" issue="2" journal="International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health" shortjournal="Int J Community Med Public Health" startpage="833" endpage="841" articlenum="" doi="10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20230247"]Link to this page: https://res.adhd.org.sa/doi/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20230247
Prevalence
Prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in the Arab Gulf countries: systematic review and meta-analysis
- Bandar M Almojarthe
International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health
10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20230247Abstract
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is an important growing psychiatric health problem of children and adolescents all over the world. This review aimed to investigate the prevalence of ADHD in the Arab Gulf countries. A literature search was conducted on 14 January 2022. Any paper reporting the prevalence of ADHD in Arab Gulf countries was included. R software was used for the meta-analysis. We included 14 papers. The prevalence of ADHD was 5.90% (95% confidence interval (CI)=1.73-20.14). We found no significant difference in the prevalence of ADHD between males and females (odds ratio (OR)=1.48; 95% CI=0.53-4.14; p value=0.456). The leave-one-out sensitivity analysis did not change the statistical significance proving that a single study did not drive the pooled effect size. Regarding parents’ educational level, the prevalence was the highest among children born to fathers with at least a secondary education 51% (95% CI= 22.97-100.00), while the prevalence rate was comparable among those with primary school education 16.6% (95% CI=1.28-100.00) and illiterate fathers 17% (95% CI=12.84-22.59). The difference between different education subgroups was statistically significant (p=0.040). There were no statistically significant differences in ADHD prevalence when comparing different mothers’ educational levels (p=0.260). The estimated cumulative evidence is high but comparable with the reported worldwide rates. Unlike these studies, the prevalence of ADHD was not associated with gender or maternal education. On the other hand, the highest prevalence of ADHD was found among children of fathers with at least a secondary education.
Keywords
ADHD, Arab Gulf, prevalence, systematic review, meta-analysis, reviewCitation
[research_citation style="APA" pubtype="journal" authors="Bandar M Almojarthe," year="2023" title="Prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in the Arab Gulf countries: systematic review and meta-analysis" volume="10" issue="2" journal="International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health" shortjournal="Int J Community Med Public Health" startpage="833" endpage="841" articlenum="" doi="10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20230247"]Link to this page: https://res.adhd.org.sa/doi/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20230247
Awareness and Attitudes
Prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in the Arab Gulf countries: systematic review and meta-analysis
- Bandar M Almojarthe
International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health
10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20230247Abstract
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is an important growing psychiatric health problem of children and adolescents all over the world. This review aimed to investigate the prevalence of ADHD in the Arab Gulf countries. A literature search was conducted on 14 January 2022. Any paper reporting the prevalence of ADHD in Arab Gulf countries was included. R software was used for the meta-analysis. We included 14 papers. The prevalence of ADHD was 5.90% (95% confidence interval (CI)=1.73-20.14). We found no significant difference in the prevalence of ADHD between males and females (odds ratio (OR)=1.48; 95% CI=0.53-4.14; p value=0.456). The leave-one-out sensitivity analysis did not change the statistical significance proving that a single study did not drive the pooled effect size. Regarding parents’ educational level, the prevalence was the highest among children born to fathers with at least a secondary education 51% (95% CI= 22.97-100.00), while the prevalence rate was comparable among those with primary school education 16.6% (95% CI=1.28-100.00) and illiterate fathers 17% (95% CI=12.84-22.59). The difference between different education subgroups was statistically significant (p=0.040). There were no statistically significant differences in ADHD prevalence when comparing different mothers’ educational levels (p=0.260). The estimated cumulative evidence is high but comparable with the reported worldwide rates. Unlike these studies, the prevalence of ADHD was not associated with gender or maternal education. On the other hand, the highest prevalence of ADHD was found among children of fathers with at least a secondary education.
Keywords
ADHD, Arab Gulf, prevalence, systematic review, meta-analysis, reviewCitation
[research_citation style="APA" pubtype="journal" authors="Bandar M Almojarthe," year="2023" title="Prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in the Arab Gulf countries: systematic review and meta-analysis" volume="10" issue="2" journal="International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health" shortjournal="Int J Community Med Public Health" startpage="833" endpage="841" articlenum="" doi="10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20230247"]Link to this page: https://res.adhd.org.sa/doi/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20230247
Diagnosis
Prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in the Arab Gulf countries: systematic review and meta-analysis
- Bandar M Almojarthe
International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health
10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20230247Abstract
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is an important growing psychiatric health problem of children and adolescents all over the world. This review aimed to investigate the prevalence of ADHD in the Arab Gulf countries. A literature search was conducted on 14 January 2022. Any paper reporting the prevalence of ADHD in Arab Gulf countries was included. R software was used for the meta-analysis. We included 14 papers. The prevalence of ADHD was 5.90% (95% confidence interval (CI)=1.73-20.14). We found no significant difference in the prevalence of ADHD between males and females (odds ratio (OR)=1.48; 95% CI=0.53-4.14; p value=0.456). The leave-one-out sensitivity analysis did not change the statistical significance proving that a single study did not drive the pooled effect size. Regarding parents’ educational level, the prevalence was the highest among children born to fathers with at least a secondary education 51% (95% CI= 22.97-100.00), while the prevalence rate was comparable among those with primary school education 16.6% (95% CI=1.28-100.00) and illiterate fathers 17% (95% CI=12.84-22.59). The difference between different education subgroups was statistically significant (p=0.040). There were no statistically significant differences in ADHD prevalence when comparing different mothers’ educational levels (p=0.260). The estimated cumulative evidence is high but comparable with the reported worldwide rates. Unlike these studies, the prevalence of ADHD was not associated with gender or maternal education. On the other hand, the highest prevalence of ADHD was found among children of fathers with at least a secondary education.
Keywords
ADHD, Arab Gulf, prevalence, systematic review, meta-analysis, reviewCitation
[research_citation style="APA" pubtype="journal" authors="Bandar M Almojarthe," year="2023" title="Prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in the Arab Gulf countries: systematic review and meta-analysis" volume="10" issue="2" journal="International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health" shortjournal="Int J Community Med Public Health" startpage="833" endpage="841" articlenum="" doi="10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20230247"]Link to this page: https://res.adhd.org.sa/doi/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20230247
Language & Communication
Prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in the Arab Gulf countries: systematic review and meta-analysis
- Bandar M Almojarthe
International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health
10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20230247Abstract
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is an important growing psychiatric health problem of children and adolescents all over the world. This review aimed to investigate the prevalence of ADHD in the Arab Gulf countries. A literature search was conducted on 14 January 2022. Any paper reporting the prevalence of ADHD in Arab Gulf countries was included. R software was used for the meta-analysis. We included 14 papers. The prevalence of ADHD was 5.90% (95% confidence interval (CI)=1.73-20.14). We found no significant difference in the prevalence of ADHD between males and females (odds ratio (OR)=1.48; 95% CI=0.53-4.14; p value=0.456). The leave-one-out sensitivity analysis did not change the statistical significance proving that a single study did not drive the pooled effect size. Regarding parents’ educational level, the prevalence was the highest among children born to fathers with at least a secondary education 51% (95% CI= 22.97-100.00), while the prevalence rate was comparable among those with primary school education 16.6% (95% CI=1.28-100.00) and illiterate fathers 17% (95% CI=12.84-22.59). The difference between different education subgroups was statistically significant (p=0.040). There were no statistically significant differences in ADHD prevalence when comparing different mothers’ educational levels (p=0.260). The estimated cumulative evidence is high but comparable with the reported worldwide rates. Unlike these studies, the prevalence of ADHD was not associated with gender or maternal education. On the other hand, the highest prevalence of ADHD was found among children of fathers with at least a secondary education.
Keywords
ADHD, Arab Gulf, prevalence, systematic review, meta-analysis, reviewCitation
[research_citation style="APA" pubtype="journal" authors="Bandar M Almojarthe," year="2023" title="Prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in the Arab Gulf countries: systematic review and meta-analysis" volume="10" issue="2" journal="International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health" shortjournal="Int J Community Med Public Health" startpage="833" endpage="841" articlenum="" doi="10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20230247"]Link to this page: https://res.adhd.org.sa/doi/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20230247