Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: An Eastern Cape study

Abstract

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a syndrome of developmentally inappropriate and socially disruptive behaviour beginning in childhood and is characterised by varying degrees of hyperactivity, anattention and impulsiveness. Diagnosis is made using DSM-IV criteria. Little is known about ADHD on the African continent. ADHD is reported to affect 3 to 5% of school-going children, of which the majority are boys. Research by Meyer suggests that ADHD is the most prevalent child psychiatric disorder in South Africa. A recent prevalence study conducted in various language groups in South Africa showed that, when a teacher rating scale was used, figures for prevalence similar to those in Western countries were obtained. The Hyperactivity/Attention Deficit Support Group of South Africa estimated in 2004 that 10% of all South African children may have characteristics associated with ADHD. No official statistics on the prevalence of ADHD in South Africa are available, however.